Always Learning: Knock down

Great observation. A group of six family members, friends, and a CFI with a handheld transceiver were walking down the taxiway toward the midpoint of the runway with great anticipation, holding congratulatory signs.

Most every pilot cherishes the memory of this magical moment in their flying career, so we also watched. The student pilot’s radio call was confident, the takeoff and lap around the pattern a tidy rectangle, and the landing about one third of the way down the runway silky smooth.

As the pilot taxied back to the departure end of the runway, his fan club spotted a photo op. They lined up with their backs to the taxiway and held up their signs. The CFI positioned himself to take a photo of the group as the airplane taxied by in the background. Then, the unexpected happened.

The pilot, no doubt distracted by his fan club, struck the man standing closest to the taxiway with the wing—knocking him down flat in the grass. The pilot must have felt the airplane shudder and came to an immediate stop, engine idling. My friend and I immediately understood what an awful decision it was for the CFI to walk the group down an active taxiway and pose for a photo during a phase of flight training that requires maximum concentration.

The CFI and pilot spoke to each other on the radio. After a few nervous minutes, the man thankfully sat up. And…the airplane began to taxi to the end of the runway. “What, he’s not going to continue, is he?” my friend asked. The student pilot didn’t shut down the engine to make sure the man was OK—and neither the CFI nor pilot took a close look at the wing to make sure there was no damage.

Surprisingly, the student pilot sounded unfazed on the radio, flew another nice pattern around the airport, and made an even better landing than the first. He then haltingly asked the instructor if he should taxi to the hangar, to which the CFI answered “Yes.” A pilot flying a Cessna 172 in the pattern said, “Nice job!” over the radio. But I’m sure this day will be remembered as a complicated mix of highs and lows for everyone involved.

Evidently the CFI did an excellent job training this pilot in the skills of flying an airplane. Not evident on this day was a display of good judgment by either CFI or pilot. Although inviting family and friends to the airport on the day of a first solo is common, it’s best they remain far enough away from the action to limit unwanted distraction for the often-nervous student pilot. And little could be more distracting than people walking on active taxiways, even if chaperoned by a CFI.

And if you hit anything with your airplane, do not take off without giving your airplane a thorough inspection for damage. Having a CFI or friend look the airplane over for you is not good enough. You are pilot in command and responsible for the airworthiness of the airplane, the safety of people in the airplane, and the safety of people on the ground.

Finally, you are responsible for determining your mental state, that you are safe to pilot the aircraft. Any aircraft incident is bound to be traumatic for all parties. Park the airplane, get out, and assess the situation. Use the IM SAFE checklist. Most likely, it’s time to call it a day.

But don’t quit flying. We all make mistakes, and we all get better at our craft by learning how to avoid those mistakes in the future.