Building hours in San Diego I invited an eager friend to become my very first passanger. I flew a route I had flown twice the previous day and took great delight oeprating the flight with a high degree of professionalism. Full passanger briefing, I even wrote up an emergency card for him
I can't explein how impressed he was when we landed at Palm Springs, right on time and a greaser of a landing.
Off we went for a nice bit of lunch, Mexican, and as I had an awful thirst a gallon of iced tea. Rushing back to the airfield all I could think of was getting off on time, back to San Diego, a few pints and let my friend tell everyone what a great pilot I was, what a mug.
20 minutes into the air, 8,000 ft over the California mountains, it hit me hard. NOTHING could stop it, no way to hold it, quick assessment and I went for that tiny f****** window in the Piper, no chance.
Luckily my passanger was a caffeine addict and had thrown his empty Grande Latte cup in the back. I know it's terribly unsafe but I hopped into the back for that cup and got 2 refills.
Fisrt cup went out the window no problem. Second cupfull just seemed to leave the aircraft turn around and come straight back in. I saw it on time, pulled back and splat, right over my passanger. Man did he scream. We was fine after a few pints, of beer.
I did learn a lesson, it's not just the aviation stuff you have to be on top of to be safe.
--------------------
One more, it wasn't me though. Friend in Florida was giving me a lift to another airfield at night. He was real tired, long day and this was a real short hop, 10 minutes max. Our FTO was shut, everyone gone home and no torch for a quick look into the fuel tanks. Whatyedo? Use your lighter, I'm serious, I was standing about 5 ft away, I ran as I shouted at him, DON'T DO IT.
I looked back, still running mind you, I just managed to see the fumes catch, flames about 2 feet straight up from the fuel tank. He had set the f******* fuel tank on fire. In fairness to the guy he didn't panic, maybe it was shock or tiredness he just stood there slapping the source of the flames.
He soon ran and threw the fuel cap back towards the tank, somehow, by some miracle it fell right in place and smothered the flames. During the post incident investigation (in the pub) he reckons the tank was so full of fuel there was no room inside for the flames to propogate.
That'smore than I've ever written on pprune.