AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2012 - 96

P&E

NEVER AGAIN

With a lump in my throat, I said, OK, I’ll of 30. The airplane continued to bounce and With the Skywagon safely tucked away, try again. Only this time, I’m flying the bird shake, but at least I was looking out the front I took care of business. Later, I thought of to the ground using a wheel landing config- windshield of the Skywagon. With full flaps the attempted landings and my foolish reauration. Surely, that will work. The Cessna extended, the 180 crossed the fence effort- sons for not calling the weatherman. What I made it around the patch, and as before lessly. Cutting the power, the old boy kissed did was stupid. I learned quickly that strong once on the final approach I was flying at the dirt surface in a three-point position crosswinds are nothing to fool with. a 45-degree angle to the runway. I was still without as much as a bounce. Immediately, The following morning, as I called Flight fearful that the wind correction was too I dumped the manual flaps, then turned off Service for a weather update on the return much and I would exceed the published in just in 300 feet. trip, I felt a tap on my shoulder from my crosswind capability. I also envisioned a Approaching the tiedown area, the man assistant editor. I learned that my friend, nasty ground loop. Seeing this was nearly from the office came out, squinting from the Ken, had passed away during the night. impossible, I aborted the second attempt blowing dust. He grabbed hold of a wing The Saturday’s return flight was with shaking knees and a dry mouth. It was strut as I rotated Charlie into a parking spot. uneventful in calm air. As Charlie droned then that the agent got on the radio. “Cessna Opening the door I looked at him, ask- along peacefully, I thought of Ken. I was Nine-Three-Seven-Zero-Charlie. Take ing, “Windy today, wouldn’t you say?” happy that he thought of me when consid“Yep! Last time I looked, it’s now blow- ering the sale of the business. I also hoped another look at the airport. In wind conditions such as we’re having this afternoon, ing with gusts up to 55 knots. That’s the he was now in a better place. A A OP we land using the dirt. We call it Runway desert for you. That old dirt runway sure 30. It’s only 1,600 feet, but that should help.” comes in mighty handy, sometimes. You did RICHARD C. SCHNEPF has been a pilot since Looking back, I spotted the worn narrow a fine job of setting this bird down.” 1955 and has more than 2,300 hours. path. At that time, there were no markings— just a mowed area that crossed 6/24. The PODCASTS Hear this and other original “Never Again” stories as podcasts every month windsock was still pointing from the north- and download audio files free from our growing library. west. I swung Charlie around and aimed for WEB www.aopa.org/pilot/never_again what I considered to 6/27/12threshold dirt 1 AOPA Pilot #926968 be the 5:16 PM Page

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2012

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