Megan,
Imagine getting amped up landing back aboard your Bird Farm AFTER dodging flak of all kinds, and evading lots of SAM's...and Mig-17's and Mig-21's .
Sorta puts some perspective into this carrier landing thing don't it?
Then.....you can add night, bad weather, and rough seas into the mix as well......even Jake Grafton had his own moments of difficulty landing back onboard his ship.
After all....he was who books were written about.