http://www.aopa.org/neveragain AOPA presents the "Never Again" series in AOPA Pilot magazine and online to allow pilots to learn from the experiences of others. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:29:09 GMT ListGarden Program 1.3.1 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en-us AOPA Ben Roberts Ben.Roberts@aopa.org Jacksonville Center handed me off to Orlando Approach and I dialed in and activated the new frequency. I keyed the mike and reported my altitude and receipt of ATIS. Then, just as the controller acknowledged my transmission and began to provide my next clearance, the cockpit suddenly went dark. The transition from a fully functioning airplane to being totally void of electricity had taken less than 60 seconds... Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:29:06 GMT The worst flight I ever made was an attempt to do a favor for a friend. My friend’s grandfather had recently passed away, and his family thought spreading his ashes over his ranch in Oklahoma would be a memorable and fitting tribute. I had been flying for almost 20 years and was honored to be able to fulfill this simple request. I turned the jar sideways and pushed the open end into the open window, hoping the slipstream would carry the ashes away. The slipstream took hold all right, but not in the way I intended... Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:35:46 GMT On a clear winter day, I departed Burlington, North Carolina, for Jackson County Airport at the western edge of the state for a visit with my fiancé. I had just reached cruising altitude at 6,500 feet, established flight following with Greensboro Approach and engaged the autopilot for what I thought would be a smooth, comfortable, VFR flight. Then I felt a slight tremor in my A-36 Bonanza and glanced at the instrument panel. To my astonishment, it was completely dark. There wasn’t a single light or flicker anywhere. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:08:06 GMT I’m a knowledgeable, careful, cautious pilot, right? Unfortunately, no, I’m not. And here’s why: A few years ago I took a cross-country trip during which I made so many mistakes and errors of judgment it’s a wonder I am still here to write about it. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:49:17 GMT The air was smooth as glass, and I had the traffic pattern to myself. It couldn’t have been better—right up until the time I retracted the landing gear. As soon as the gear was up, the Baron began to violently shake and shudder. I noticed that it wasn’t just the aircraft that was shaking; the control yoke itself was oscillating in my hand, separate from the rest of the aircraft. My attention shifted to the control surfaces, and I swiveled around in my seat to give them a close look. Then I saw it... Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:42:33 GMT Suddenly I could see a light spray of fuel pouring a mist of avgas on my leg. As I was looking for the grass strips, I spotted what looked like a hard-surface runway. … A guy drove up … walked up to me, sort of got in my face, and said, “Do you know you just landed inside a prison?” Yikes! Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:52:48 GMT Although some minor variation in the fuel gauges was common in our previous plane, I was somewhat disconcerted to see that the fuel gauges in the new plane were fluctuating wildly...when I landed, I had 3.4 gallons of usable fuel left! Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:00:04 GMT Something felt strange...I looked outside and finally discovered the problem: I had snagged the loop with my right main landing gear instead of the hook. Uh-Oh! Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:58:59 GMT The chicken sandwiches were great. But were they worth braving a 45-knot crosswind? Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:28:01 GMT A Mooney pilot encounters a crosswind that nearly overpowers his aircraft on takeoff. Find out how the pilot salvaged a bad situation in "Never Again: Almost Gone With The Wind" by Bill Keathley, read by AOPA Senior Editor Thomas B. Haines. Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:41:34 GMT A taxiing Kitfox nearly becomes a tumbleweed when a powerful turboprop runs up its engines. Find out how the Kitfox pilot avoided serious damage in "Never Again: Propwash" by Guy Buchanan, read by AOPA editor-in-chief Thomas Haines. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:37:06 GMT A float plane adventure ends early and nearly in disaster, for two brothers in a Cessna 180. Find out what stopped them in "Never Again: Lost Dances" by Loren Bauman, read by AOPA senior editor Alton Marsh. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:42:42 GMT A highly experienced pilot runs out of fuel despite careful calculations. Find out what went wrong--and what went right--on "Never Again: Fuel Gauge on Empty" by Ren Hart, read by AOPA senior editor Alton Marsh. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:09:25 GMT A flight instructor and instrument student are confronted with jammed controls and low visibility on a training flight. Find out how they escape in "Never Again: Overlooking the Obvious" by Jud Phillips, read by AOPA's senior editor Dave Hirschmann. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:17:14 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-01-51 An air force fighter pilot attempts to land despite a strong tailwind. Find out how he pulls it off in "Never Again: F-16 Cross-Country to Korea" by Jeffrey Stambaugh, read by AOPA's senior editor Dave Hirschmann. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:15:56 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-01-57 AOPA Pilot Never Again: A Mooney pilot over Lake Michigan faces an IFR descent and forced landing. Find out what went wrong in "Never Again: Dead-Stick into Muscegon" by Ed Haines, read by AOPA senior editor Paul Richfield. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:14:50 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-02-06 AOPA Pilot Never Again: A former Vietnam pilot faces a series of critical decisions in what was supposed to be a simple cross-country flight in an R22. Find out about his harrowing flight in "Never Again: R22 Night Cross Country," by Roger Daisley, read by AOPA's senior editor Paul Richfield. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:11:48 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-02-01 AOPA Pilot Never Again: A Bonanza on a night flight to Atlanta encounters severe turbulence in a fast-moving weather system. Find out how the pilot escaped in "Never Again: New Year's Resolution," by David Howe and read by AOPA senior editor Dave Hirschman. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:39:28 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-02-16 AOPA Pilot Never Again: An electrical failure on a private pilot's first trip with his wife brings some tense moments in the sky over a busy California airport. How did the pilot get the Piper Arrow's landing gear down? Find out in "Never Again: Stress Changes Everything," by Thomas W. Shalhoub, read by AOPA's senior editor Dave Hirschman. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:46:53 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-02-22 AOPA Pilot Never Again: A heavily loaded Piper Archer faces deteriorating weather and coastal fog in Maine. How did the pilot react? AOPA's senior editor Dave Hirschman reads for you Never Again: No Shortage of Challenges, by Bill Feinstein. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:32:36 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-02-28