Worst mistake you've made?
Join Date: Mar 2001
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I've done the 'parking-brake-on-for-take-off-manoeuvre' too! and also managed to land with brakes partially on in a 152 - felt like a carrier landing 
I'm paranoid about needing to relieve oneself whilst flying as well.. especially on those cross-channel trips after a nice strong French cafe-au-lait!
T
I'm paranoid about needing to relieve oneself whilst flying as well.. especially on those cross-channel trips after a nice strong French cafe-au-lait!
T
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Hour building in Florida right after PPL & IMC, I borrowed one of the FTO's Cessna 152s (an airframe which I hadn't used before) and assumed that it was fitted with long-range tanks (36 US gallons if I recall). I then set out on a longish VFR nav - with a divert en route due weather - and on landing back at "home base", was shocked to discover that the plane was fitted with... standard tanks (24 US gallons)!
A quick calculation showed I had actually used 95% of the on-board fuel... Not much to play with in case of a go-around!
Lesson learned: never assume, always double-check!
Cheers
A quick calculation showed I had actually used 95% of the on-board fuel... Not much to play with in case of a go-around!
Lesson learned: never assume, always double-check!
Cheers
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Between a rock and a hard place
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Just found this thread and without any intention of 'bumping' I'd like to share some of the mistakes I have made, hopefully someone can learn from it. I have learnt my home work a couple of times!
My biggest mistake was a cross country flight, not much more than 25 nm away so I was close to the field all the time. Took off quite late in the afternoon and the sun was going down but I thought I would be home before it was completely gone. However I wasn't and this was before I had NQ. The meeting with my CFI afterwards was nasty but I think I deserved it.
Minor mistakes, which easily occurs during training: landed with the feet on the brakes, forogt final check, realised on short short short final I wasn't cleared to land (went around, fortunately not the same flight as I forgot final check).
My biggest mistake was a cross country flight, not much more than 25 nm away so I was close to the field all the time. Took off quite late in the afternoon and the sun was going down but I thought I would be home before it was completely gone. However I wasn't and this was before I had NQ. The meeting with my CFI afterwards was nasty but I think I deserved it.
Minor mistakes, which easily occurs during training: landed with the feet on the brakes, forogt final check, realised on short short short final I wasn't cleared to land (went around, fortunately not the same flight as I forgot final check).
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Post-qualification I joined a flying club with a nice new(ish) Skyhawk complete with autopilot. I didn't pay much attention to the AP when I had my club checkout, thinking I would rather hand fly. Like many autopilots this one is activated by a thumb button on the yoke where you might otherwise expect the mic key to be. I discovered the hard way one day after take off when I had to fight to stop the plane turning in the opposite direction I wanted it to. Fortunately I worked out what was going on before I killed myself, and I now know how to operate the AP (it's a great tool for lazy cruising btw).
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Right after I got my IR, I was doing a commercial XC flight form MIC to MKT. I was on VFR flight following and was supposed to stay clear of clouds. Well, sure enough this one puffy cloud turned out to be somewhat higher that I thought, so there I was in actual, by myself, for the first time. Thankfully, all that training kicked in and I flew the plane (a C172) on the gauges until I emerged into the clear again. Kind of exciting, actually.
Blah Blah Blah
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Calling left base for 05 at Teeside when i was actualy on right base for 23, despite the fact that i was actualy joining for a left downwind for 05. Felt like a right muppet when i realised and told tower of my lack of understanding between left and right. Didn't help when tower reply with laughter.
Gary.
Gary.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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On one of my first gliding solo's I remember pulling back far too hard at the top of the launch, broke the cable, causing a 1000ft of wire to drift downwind and wrap itself around the nearby hydro electric power lines. The flash, spectacular as it was, unfortunately blew all the power to the local town for 4 hours! To say I wasnt popular was a slight understatement! The moral of the story was we probably shouldnt have been launching in the first place given the wind direction. The club learnt a lesson the hard way, just unfortunate I was the "guinea pig" so to speak. We've since paid lots of money to the hydro to have the power lines buried.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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My worst
I made a slow, easy and leisurely sunday morning call on 121.5
I also had a tail strike in a c 172, but nothing like some of the stories i am reading, lol
I also had a tail strike in a c 172, but nothing like some of the stories i am reading, lol
Having finished my basic flying training at Cranwell, I went to Leeming to do a short flying course whilst waiting for a Gnat course. After the Leeming course, back to hold at Cranwell for a couple more months.
One day, I flew back to Leeming with an instructor in a JP5. My approach, so the usual 300 kt 300 ft run-in-and-break. Called initials, smacked it over onto its side, pulled like a bug ger, rolled out on final......
For the wrong RW!
I'd joined for the correct one, but pulled too tight and ended up nicely set up on the wrong one. Went round with the instructor pi$$ing himself with laughter!
One day, I flew back to Leeming with an instructor in a JP5. My approach, so the usual 300 kt 300 ft run-in-and-break. Called initials, smacked it over onto its side, pulled like a bug ger, rolled out on final......
For the wrong RW!
I'd joined for the correct one, but pulled too tight and ended up nicely set up on the wrong one. Went round with the instructor pi$$ing himself with laughter!
Super-Friendly Aviator
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On one of my first gliding solo's I remember pulling back far too hard at the top of the launch, broke the cable, causing a 1000ft of wire to drift downwind and wrap itself around the nearby hydro electric power lines. The flash, spectacular as it was, unfortunately blew all the power to the local town for 4 hours! To say I wasnt popular was a slight understatement! The moral of the story was we probably shouldnt have been launching in the first place given the wind direction. The club learnt a lesson the hard way, just unfortunate I was the "guinea pig" so to speak. We've since paid lots of money to the hydro to have the power lines buried.
Having finished my basic flying training at Cranwell, I went to Leeming to do a short flying course whilst waiting for a Gnat course. After the Leeming course, back to hold at Cranwell for a couple more months.
One day, I flew back to Leeming with an instructor in a JP5. My approach, so the usual 300 kt 300 ft run-in-and-break. Called initials, smacked it over onto its side, pulled like a bug ger, rolled out on final......
For the wrong RW!
I'd joined for the correct one, but pulled too tight and ended up nicely set up on the wrong one. Went round with the instructor pi$$ing himself with laughter!
One day, I flew back to Leeming with an instructor in a JP5. My approach, so the usual 300 kt 300 ft run-in-and-break. Called initials, smacked it over onto its side, pulled like a bug ger, rolled out on final......
For the wrong RW!
I'd joined for the correct one, but pulled too tight and ended up nicely set up on the wrong one. Went round with the instructor pi$$ing himself with laughter!
Keep 'em coming!
V1R
Join Date: Sep 2005
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Only three months ago and for reasons best known to some bugger else I was doing a pre-gft revison test over Whitchurch in a Terrahawk. Power off -nose high , stall warner mushy controls a/c stalls , instructor says "recover" at this point right wing drops I grab the biggestest gutfull of left aileron you have ever seen with incredibly predictable results , Much heavy breathing and one change of underwear later and I was still wondering why the hell I did that , Instructor thought it was hilarious , whats the phrase? I learnt about ........
Join Date: Mar 2006
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long solo cross country building up to my ppl. Was in america, the airfield that i was based at had an mid-air collision the day before my solo. Put that out my mind and set off. all went well apart from forgetting to turn on to "alt" on the transponder after leaving the first airfield (realised very quickly tho on the climb out). I get back to Gillespie thinking thank god i made it, and call up the airfield reporting that i am over loveland resevoir. Thinking happy days when "353 ident" hmmm o.k why? "353 you meant el cap resevoir did'nt you?!"
DOH!
"erm yeah el cap resevoir, Sorry!"
Suffice to say he was not best pleased with me, to be honest it was ****ty timing, with the mid-air the day before. felt a right numpty but at least nout bad came of it.
DOH!
"erm yeah el cap resevoir, Sorry!"
Suffice to say he was not best pleased with me, to be honest it was ****ty timing, with the mid-air the day before. felt a right numpty but at least nout bad came of it.
BestAviation.net
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The unfortunate effects of relative air on a fuel strainer
This is one of those "I have a friend" stories - but never the less it is true...and it was indeed a friend who did it. On a 3 hour nav flight last christmas my flyingbuddy (who has a bladder the size of a shotglass) desided it was time to take care of business.
The idea was quite brilliant - climb in the back of the C172, go in the fuel strainer and then poor it out the window. After a few moments of relief I opened the window on my side (right side) after which I heard a scream from the back. Aparently he had put the full fuel strainer into the airflow and the air had now lifted the yellow liquid out of the strainer and sent it for his face.
The unexpected but very eventfull happening was of course caught on photo (after the fact) and if it hadn't been for the autopilot I'm sure keeping heading and altitude would have posed a problem for the minutes to follow. I've never laughed so hard in an airplane before - I guess simple humor is the best after all
The idea was quite brilliant - climb in the back of the C172, go in the fuel strainer and then poor it out the window. After a few moments of relief I opened the window on my side (right side) after which I heard a scream from the back. Aparently he had put the full fuel strainer into the airflow and the air had now lifted the yellow liquid out of the strainer and sent it for his face.
The unexpected but very eventfull happening was of course caught on photo (after the fact) and if it hadn't been for the autopilot I'm sure keeping heading and altitude would have posed a problem for the minutes to follow. I've never laughed so hard in an airplane before - I guess simple humor is the best after all
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Originally Posted by Craggenmore
Not changing IR instructor quick enough before damage was done 
Would have to agree with you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!, still paying it off as a result.
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Basic jet training on the JP at Linton in the early 70s - circuits were flown left hand, except for Wednesdays, when they were right hand. QFI gives me an engine failure in Linton overhead and I launch straight into the forced landing pattern, spouting all the good stuff from the checklist; half-way through the pattern, as we leave High Key for Low Key, I can feel the silent QFI writing something on my right kneepad - I'm sweating cobs trying to get the pattern right and fit the drills in, but manage to glance quickly at my kneepad - it says one word: Wednesday. I reverse quickly into a right hand pattern while the previously silent QFI giggles to himself........
Join Date: Feb 2004
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On my QXC for my PPL, I was assigned for a flight to Staverton and back to Peterborough, via Bourne.
The flight itself went very well - I arrived into Staverton on time, and with a big smile on my face. Uploaded fuel, had a coffee, and then started redoing my checks. No problems there, taxied out to the hold. Announced that I was ready for departure... and then without reason, continued to taxi. Onto the runway. Right in front of an arriving PA28.
To say that the pilot of the PA28, the ATC and the flying club back in Peterborough were not best pleased is an understatement. I couldn't think of a suitable reply to Staverton Tower either, so I just said something really stupid. I can't rememeber what it was though...
If I ever meet the pilot of that PA28, I owe him a beer. I'm so sorry about that to this day. I learnt flying/taxying from that!!!
The flight itself went very well - I arrived into Staverton on time, and with a big smile on my face. Uploaded fuel, had a coffee, and then started redoing my checks. No problems there, taxied out to the hold. Announced that I was ready for departure... and then without reason, continued to taxi. Onto the runway. Right in front of an arriving PA28.
To say that the pilot of the PA28, the ATC and the flying club back in Peterborough were not best pleased is an understatement. I couldn't think of a suitable reply to Staverton Tower either, so I just said something really stupid. I can't rememeber what it was though...
If I ever meet the pilot of that PA28, I owe him a beer. I'm so sorry about that to this day. I learnt flying/taxying from that!!!
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As a new PPL instructor I gave a lengthy pre flight brief on stall recovery to a nervous student and off we went into the blue to try it out. After a demo it was his turn.
My mistake? Not telling him how far to move the control column forward in the recovery.
After he pushed the stick FULLY forward and our cessna 150 went from about 45 deg pitch up to almost vertically pitch down. I professionally screamed for control, he screamed because he thought he was going to die and then his side window popped open letting the increasing breeze blow in noisily! Chaos. After I recovered control he sat there with his hand on his heart, eyes closed,breathing heavily looking like a heart attack victim. "S!*T, i've killed a student....!" i thought. Luckily he was 'just' in shock.
So now, I make sure I get the stude to follow through on my demo. Now I only occassionally scare the poop out of my studes.
We never have to many hours to learn anything new, and quite often from those with less hours!
My mistake? Not telling him how far to move the control column forward in the recovery.
After he pushed the stick FULLY forward and our cessna 150 went from about 45 deg pitch up to almost vertically pitch down. I professionally screamed for control, he screamed because he thought he was going to die and then his side window popped open letting the increasing breeze blow in noisily!
Chaos. After I recovered control he sat there with his hand on his heart, eyes closed,breathing heavily looking like a heart attack victim. "S!*T, i've killed a student....!" i thought. Luckily he was 'just' in shock.So now, I make sure I get the stude to follow through on my demo. Now I only occassionally scare the poop out of my studes.
We never have to many hours to learn anything new, and quite often from those with less hours!
Join Date: May 2004
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"After he pushed the stick FULLY forward and our cessna 150 went from about 45 deg pitch up to almost vertically pitch down."
Had almost the identical situation happen to me. First flight with an older guy brushing up for a PPL skills test after 5 years of a lapsed PPL. The student flew extremely well and his handling was confident, so I asked him if he'd be happy to show me a clean stall recovery. Without prompting he did a full hasell check and slowed the a/c down keeping it rock solid level, leaving me relaxed and calm, and then at the first pip of the warner the stick went hard full forward. My note pad actually 'shot' off of my lap and firmly pinned itself to the roof lining while I struggled to push one hand hard on the roof so that I could hold myself down enough to reach the stick........ 'Errrr I have control'
As my CFI always states, 'it'll be the guy with a license who tries to kill you, not a new student!' never relax your guard.
Was left wondering about the structural implications of high -ve G in a 9000 hour C172!
Had almost the identical situation happen to me. First flight with an older guy brushing up for a PPL skills test after 5 years of a lapsed PPL. The student flew extremely well and his handling was confident, so I asked him if he'd be happy to show me a clean stall recovery. Without prompting he did a full hasell check and slowed the a/c down keeping it rock solid level, leaving me relaxed and calm, and then at the first pip of the warner the stick went hard full forward. My note pad actually 'shot' off of my lap and firmly pinned itself to the roof lining while I struggled to push one hand hard on the roof so that I could hold myself down enough to reach the stick........ 'Errrr I have control'
As my CFI always states, 'it'll be the guy with a license who tries to kill you, not a new student!' never relax your guard.
Was left wondering about the structural implications of high -ve G in a 9000 hour C172!