Major mistakes with minor consequences
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Major mistakes with minor consequences
In another thread, in relation to a wheels up landing, someone wrote -
"I think its more of a minor mistake with major consequences".
Got me thinking about Major Mistakes that have had Minor Consequences.
Care to share your some of your aviation f*ck-up experiences?
I'll "show you mine first" to kick the ball off!
Three in 30 years (1 in every 10? - except they all occurred in the first 15 years of my flying career).
1) 100 hrs PIC: After a high stress flight in a PA32 (bad weather and radio problems) I found myself having to "go around" from short final at YBAF due traffic. As I turned X-wind, the engine stopped cause I had missed my downwind checks and drained a tank (1 of 4) dry. They say the engine will surge first - WRONG! Quick run through the emergency drill had it restarted ASAP and none of the pax realised that something was amiss! Maybe helps if you instantly realise how you have f*cked up! Probably would have made it back onto the aerodrome regardless.
2) 500 hrs PIC: Landed down wind onto a short strip in a C185 - would have run off the end if I hadn't ground looped it (right in front of the owner!) - no damage to anything other than my pride.
3) 1000 hrs PIC: Landed a C402 load of freight at a country aerodrome to pick up some more parcels. Took off with full flap extended. Man did that 402 get off the ground in a hurry - like it had an elevator under it. Bled the flap off and went on my merry way! Prefer not to think about what the outcome would have been had I lost a donk?
Cheers
R
"I think its more of a minor mistake with major consequences".
Got me thinking about Major Mistakes that have had Minor Consequences.
Care to share your some of your aviation f*ck-up experiences?
I'll "show you mine first" to kick the ball off!
Three in 30 years (1 in every 10? - except they all occurred in the first 15 years of my flying career).
1) 100 hrs PIC: After a high stress flight in a PA32 (bad weather and radio problems) I found myself having to "go around" from short final at YBAF due traffic. As I turned X-wind, the engine stopped cause I had missed my downwind checks and drained a tank (1 of 4) dry. They say the engine will surge first - WRONG! Quick run through the emergency drill had it restarted ASAP and none of the pax realised that something was amiss! Maybe helps if you instantly realise how you have f*cked up! Probably would have made it back onto the aerodrome regardless.
2) 500 hrs PIC: Landed down wind onto a short strip in a C185 - would have run off the end if I hadn't ground looped it (right in front of the owner!) - no damage to anything other than my pride.
3) 1000 hrs PIC: Landed a C402 load of freight at a country aerodrome to pick up some more parcels. Took off with full flap extended. Man did that 402 get off the ground in a hurry - like it had an elevator under it. Bled the flap off and went on my merry way! Prefer not to think about what the outcome would have been had I lost a donk?
Cheers
R
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
Join Date: Jul 2000
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6000 hrs PIC. took off from an unlit country aerodrome in the dark and was about 10 knts short of rotate speed when a skippy jumped out in front of me.
Hauled the aircraft over the skippy and into a very black night, with no horizon at all. got very disorientated and really had to fight to get the AH in the right attitude and to stop spinning wildly from side to side. almost became a statistic and was very happy to see a few thousand feet underneath me while I fought every sense in my body trying to kill me. Really dumb and never to be repeated.
Hauled the aircraft over the skippy and into a very black night, with no horizon at all. got very disorientated and really had to fight to get the AH in the right attitude and to stop spinning wildly from side to side. almost became a statistic and was very happy to see a few thousand feet underneath me while I fought every sense in my body trying to kill me. Really dumb and never to be repeated.
Choofing into YSBK one morning at 800ft under a 900ft thin layer of stratus after being too lazy to fly a GPS approach, as the aerodrome was clear. Tracked via 2RN, and then suddently realised as the tower went flashing past the left window that I was 100ft lower than the top.
I can still see the guy wires holding the damn thing up. Would have hit it at ~150 knots. How 
dumb.
Bevan..
I can still see the guy wires holding the damn thing up.
Would have hit it at ~150 knots. How dumb.Bevan..
