AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 94

P&E

NEVER AGAIN

and pushed the throttle forward to get To her credit, she stayed very calm and I made sure I was set up perfect, right home. Even as I type these words, I still trusted me to get our girls home safely. on the glideslope, and lined up as if I was can’t believe I did this. I had my family on Albeit a dumb decision, I was too far into on a frozen rope. Thankfully, no go-around board, for Pete’s sake. But I did it. this now to turn around. The airport was was necessary and I made one of the best All was well for about the first half of closer than turning back and escaping the landings of my flying career—at the end of the trip. The clouds were well above me, low ceiling. I was still maintaining VFR, some of my poorest decision making. and I was able to maintain VFR. A very just on the very edge of it turning into Once we were down and done at the low-flying VFR, but VFR nonetheless. instrument conditions. FBO, I told my wife that was too close on That’s when I started entering an area Since I was quietly in a desperate sit- the weather and I would never do that characterized as the Hill Country, with uation to get on the ground as quickly as again. She commented that she also felt soft rolling hills. Mountains to us flatland- I could, I called the tower and asked for a the window closing but really felt calm ers, but rolling hills to most other people. straight-in approach. He instantly cleared because I didn’t show signs of stress. I Regardless, they are big enough to really me to land, which was probably easy on his guess I fooled her, but it was an event that mess with the weather patterns, especially part since I was the only fool flying right will stick with me forever—and will never this close to the ground. now. I’ve never been more relieved to hear happen again. AOPA It quickly became apparent that the the words “cleared to land.” ceiling was starting to drop, so I had to This is when the thought hit me: What RANDY MILLER is a private pilot who lives in descend as well. At this point I had the air- if I need to go around? New Braunfels, Texas. port in sight, but it was still a good 10 miles or so out. The next few minutes were the A collection of classic “Never Again” articles is avialable in eBook format longest of my life. The ceiling was drop- (www.aopa.org/ebooks). ping, I had the throttle pushed almost into PODCASTS Hear this and other original “Never Again” stories as podcasts every month the propeller, and I swear that airport was and download audio files free from our growing library. moving away from me. And I could tell my WEB www.aopa.org/pilot/never_again wife had picked up on what was going on.


http://www.aopa.org/ebooks http://www.aopa.org/pilot/never_again http://www.RodMachado.com http://www.RodMachado.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013

AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013
Contents
President’s Position
Visual Approach
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Strength In Purpose
Watch What You Eat
Milestones
AOPA Foundation
Test Pilot
News
LSA Focus: Light Years Ahead
LSA Focus: Personal Vision
LSA Focus: Buying Into the Dream
Will Fly For Food
Technique
Ownership
Avionics
Efficiency
Never Again
Frugal Flier
State & Local Action
Products and Partners
Products and Services
Air Safety Institute
AOPA Insurance Services-Aviation
AOPA Member Benefits
Fly by Wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Visual Approach
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Strength In Purpose
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Watch What You Eat
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Milestones
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Foundation
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Test Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - News
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - LSA Focus: Light Years Ahead
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - LSA Focus: Personal Vision
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - LSA Focus: Buying Into the Dream
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Will Fly For Food
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Technique
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Ownership
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Avionics
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Efficiency
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Frugal Flier
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - State & Local Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - I1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - I2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Products and Partners
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Products and Services
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Air Safety Institute
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Insurance Services-Aviation
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Member Benefits
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Fly by Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Cover4
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