AOPA Never Again

Ninety-Degree Turn on Takeoff (November 2017) 10.10.2017 8:30 ↓

A sod farm makes a fine landing field until it's harvested. Prepare for a bumpy arrival in "Ninety-Degree Turn on Takeoff" by Tom Haack. 

Undone by a no-brainer (October 2017) 11.09.2017 9:09 ↓

On a 10-minute VFR trip, a Cessna Skylane pilot wanders into unforecast IMC. What to do? By Peter Boody. 

The eyes have it (September 2017) 10.08.2017 9:41 ↓

 Always perform a visual inspection of the fuel in your tanks. By Jerry Hawkins.

Check the checklist (August 2017) 21.07.2017 9:31 ↓

A hand-me-down checklist causes problems during an engine failure after takeoff. By James Carter. 

The Little Voice Within Me (July 2017) 28.06.2017 12:25 ↓

There's certainly something wrong with a Skyhawk that runs through its entire fuel supply in an hour and a half. But if there's no obvious leak, where do you look next? By Doren Weston

Smoke screen (June 2017) 30.05.2017 9:26 ↓

 A Cessna 210 flying in the Bahamas is suddenly filled with blinding smoke. What would you do? 

Surprise encounter (May 2017) 18.04.2017 9:33 ↓

In this episode, a Zenith 601 XLB pilot finds himself unexpectedly upside down--twice. You might want to grab that helmet and ride along in "Surprise Encounter," by Bill Thomas. 

Just like in the real world (April 2017) 18.04.2017 7:16 ↓

Erratic airspeed indications, including a 70-knot indication while plugged into ground power. You trust your ASI, don't you? Compare your answer in "Just Like the Real World," by Harvey R. Greenberg. 

Gang bar down (March 2017) 18.04.2017 8:43 ↓

High over the North Atlantic, a King Air pilot inadvertently causes a complete electrical shutdown. Stray on the oxygen and fly along with "Gang Bar Down," by Dan Gleason. 

Hatchet job (February 2017) 18.04.2017 10:44 ↓

When the gear fails to retract, a Grumman Goose pilot attempts an extraordinary repair with a most unusual tool. 

Airshow awkwardness (January 2017) 18.04.2017 7:34 ↓

A low-time Cessna pilot pays a social price for an incomplete preflight. 

Never Again: Nose to the Grindstone (Dec. 2016) 13.12.2016 8:29 ↓

Main gear down and locked, nose gear still up in the nose. What would you do when a prop strike is the least of your worries? Find out what a cargo pilot did!

Never Again: Suddenly PIC (Nov. 2016) 13.12.2016 8:54 ↓

An iced-up Baron is hard to land when the pilot can't see out the front. Pull on your warm gloves and ride along!

Never Again: Nowhere to Turn (Oct. 2016) 13.12.2016 10:29 ↓

A Colorado pilot on a VFR mountain cross-country has few options when encountering a wall of clouds. Oxygen might be a good idea!

Never Again: Big Bang (Sept. 2016) 13.12.2016 7:47 ↓

A Cherokee pilot is cautioned to not to try to scare his passenger, only to find out how scary an engine failure is for all aboard. It's clench time!

Never Again: Slip Slidin' Away (Aug. 2016) 16.08.2016 7:59 ↓

A ski landing on the Alaskan ice succeeds ... by inches.

Never Again: Half Full (July 2016) 23.06.2016 9:07 ↓

A hurried takeoff induces an Arrow pilot to miss a fundamental engine control.

Never Again: Mayday over Illinois (May 2016) 23.06.2016 10:11 ↓

A Bonanza pilot suffers a catastrophic engine failure but lands safely using a synthetic vision system.

Never Again: Where Lesser Angels Roam (June 2016) 08.06.2016 10:44 ↓

Hot weather, an overloaded airplane, and bad advice create a dangerous chain of events. Be glad you're on the ground!

Never Again: Up in Smoke (April 2016) 08.06.2016 8:17 ↓

In the chaos of a forest fire, a reconnaissance pilot forgets rule one: fly the plane.

Never Again: Imagination or Insight - Alternator Failure at Night (March 2016) 08.06.2016 10:35 ↓

When the alternator fails, the battery is supposed to be good for 30 minutes. But when it quits after only 18, how do you get the gear down?

Never Again: Once upon a Night Flight Dreary (Jan. 2016) 13.01.2016 7:47 ↓

A dual alternator failure in IFR, at night, on a twin just out of annual - what could possibly go wrong? Have your flashlight and raincoat handy and climb into the right seat.

Never Again: Engine-out over Okefenokee Swamp (Feb. 2016) 13.01.2016 8:44 ↓

The possibility of landing at night in the country's biggest swamp motivates a Cherokee to fly an engine-out approach very carefully.

Never Again: Scud Runner (Dec. 2015) 16.11.2015 8:16 ↓

A newly-minted instrument pilot falls into the impending clearance trap. Cinch up that harness and expect some turbulence!

Never Again: A Thump on Final (July. 2015) 13.10.2015 8:45 ↓

An unsuspecting cross-country pilot gets "thumped" by an F-16.