104. A Near-Disaster Hidden in a Familiar Thump

In this episode of Flying Magazine's "I learned about flying from that" podcast, host Rob Reider speaks with Tim Kurrek about a truly challenging incident that occurred over 20 years ago. Tim, a longtime instructor with extensive tailwheel and glider experience, was on what should have been a routine flight in IMC in his trusted Cessna 180 when the engine suddenly and unexpectedly quit. With no autopilot and the gyros spooling down, Tim was immediately thrust into a situation requiring proficient hand flying and quick thinking. After declaring the engine failure and contacting NorCal, he began troubleshooting while maintaining his best glide speed. However, battling heavy rain and downdrafts, Tim realized his descent rate was higher than expected, and he wouldn't make the initial airport NorCal vectored him towards, which was surrounded by suburbia. This critical realization forced a rapid decision and a change of course towards what he hoped would be more suitable terrain. Breaking out of the clouds at a low altitude, he faced the daunting task of selecting and landing on an unconventional off-airport site under challenging muddy and crosswind conditions. The landing, while successful in preserving life and aircraft integrity, presented its own immediate set of problems with the aircraft sinking into the mud. What followed involved navigating interactions with a gruff local farmer, law enforcement, and the FAA, all while trying to understand the mysterious engine failure. Ultimately, the cause of the engine issue was identified, and the challenging process of recovering the aircraft from the field, with the farmer's reluctant assistance, became another chapter in the story. Tim shares the powerful lessons learned about the importance of aircraft knowledge, maintaining pilot proficiency, critical situational awareness, and the absolute necessity of pre-planning flights, even IFR ones, with VFR charts to understand the ground below. His experience vividly illustrates astronaut Frank Borman's quote: "A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill".

What sounds inconsequential on the ground can turn deadly in the air. Join Rob Reider on this episode of "I Learned About Flying From That" as he speaks with Philip Harris. Philip recounts a seemingly ordinary taxi out in his Rans S6 with his father, where a familiar thump masked a potentially catastrophic propeller strike. Discover how a post-flight inspection revealed the terrifying truth: a severely damaged propeller that could have failed at any moment during their flight, or worse, while taxiing amongst crowds at an airshow. Philip shares the vital lessons learned that day about trusting your instincts and the importance of a thorough post-flight inspection. This is a chilling reminder that even experienced pilots can be fooled by the familiar, and that a moment of doubt warrants immediate investigation.

Organization is important in every facet of life, especially in aviation. It's why we have checklists, and breaking the flow of those procedures can be hazardous to your health. While preparing for a casual flight to play golf, Dr. Baron Hamman deviated from his preflight routine to call his brother, inadvertently skipping the step of securely latching the aircraft door. Hear what happened in this episode.

A bird strike is a possibility that every pilot has to face, and they happen so quickly it's generally up to the bird to do the avoidance maneuver. In this episode, we'll meet two people who were literally inches from losing their lives when not one but two geese hit their airplane in the dark of night at an altitude of about 3,000 feet. Hear their harrowing story and how quick actions prevented tragedy.

The internet and rise of social media have been a boon for so many around the world. But when there's a disaster, particularly one that involves an airplane, so-called experts are often quick to speculate about the cause and place blame. But there are few people out there whose reporting puts accuracy ahead of the need to be first with a story. Today, we'll meet “Hoover” from Pilot Debrief, a YouTube channel that offers aviation mishap analysis, and hear how it all got started for him.

In this special 100th episode celebration of the ILAFFT podcast, Lisa DeFrees shares her insights and experiences from behind the scenes. We’ll take a nostalgic journey through our Top 10 favorite stories that captivated listeners over the past five years. Each tale resonates with the spirit of flying—be it the thrill of piloting, the challenges faced in the air, or the stories that connect us to the broader aviation community. As we reflect on the journey so far, we’ll also offer listeners a glimpse into future episodes. Join us for a memorable episode full of laughter, learning, and a shared passion for aviation.

Have you ever had problems locating an airport even from a few miles away? Altitude, sun angles, haze, and unfamiliarity with the airport can cause problems. And then there's the issue of which runway you should use. A VFR pilot in a Cessna 182 had a problem locating the field and the right runway and found himself very close to another airplane on approach to the correct runway. Hear what happened on this episode.

There's a phrase used when talking about aircraft incidents that has become popular: “The holes in the Swiss cheese lined up.” And it happened to two pilots who encountered weather that almost brought them down … but not in a way one would expect. Snow-clogged engines, a cigarette lighter, differential pressures—the holes lined up. For the first time, Bob Rutherford shares the full story of what happened when his co-pilot caught fire.

Kevin Capozzi was the proud owner of a pressurized Cessna 337 Skymaster. He flew it a lot and knew its strengths and even its quirks, like fuel gauges that weren't always trustworthy. But he knew the fuel burn and meticulously kept track of it. So when both engines stopped almost simultaneously, the cause was a mystery. Hear what happened in this episode.

On an airliner, one of the flight attendants has the responsibility to make sure the boarding door is closed and locked for the flight. On some much smaller airlines, it's the first officer's job. So what happens if it opens on its own at 8,000 feet? It's a potentially deadly situation for the plane and passengers, and it happened to today’s guest, Lori Cline. Hear her remarkable story.