I was 16 and I wanted to be a commercial airlines pilot. While going to high school I worked nights and weekends to pay the $15 per hour of flight instruction -- imagine that -- and I thought it was pretty high.
I found a qualified instructor (a PanAm 707) trans-Atlantic pilot who really enjoyed flying and we took off in a Cessna 150 at the time. I had about seven hours flying time and my pronouncements were good, so the instructor told me that I could do my first solo the next time out.
Suddenly, he grunted, turned white and became unconcious while we were doing S-turns over power lines. Scared the living hell out of me. I turned the plane around and headed back to the airport and sought out the tarmac and by God, I landed it.
Just then, the instructor came around, took one look, and told me I had done a good job. I later drove him to the hospital where the diagnosis was severe indigestion and heartburn. Neither of us reported the incident to the FAA. Remember, I was 16 and didn't know the complexeties of having to report every incident, whether professional or private.
He remained my flight instructor and I eventually took a FAA PPL license at Lakehurst, New Jersey. He retired and is now dead. I rented planes for a while, but then it got too expensive and I let the license lapse.