Pilots Must Get Back in Air After Scare

When an instructional flight goes sideways, there are lessons to be learned about managing the aftermath and the psychology of returning to the cockpit.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, October 07, 2025 at 11:45 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

When you acquire pilot certificates and ratings rapidly, you may be ready for the next check ride while flying on a temporary certificate. But is that legal? [Credit: iStock]

Key Takeaways:

Returning to flight training after an accident or incident, particularly during dual instructional flights, poses significant psychological challenges for both students and instructors.
Even highly experienced CFIs can encounter accidents during routine maneuvers like takeoffs and landings, often due to unpredictable external factors such as sudden, unforecasted wind shifts, as illustrated by a specific tailwheel training incident.
Post-accident recovery requires managing the psychological impact, accepting responsibility, acknowledging uncontrollable elements (like weather), and a conscious effort to move forward to resume training.

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One of the most challenging things a pilot can do is get back into the air after they’ve had an accident or incident. This is particularly true if the event happened during a dual instructional flight.

Problems during an instructional flight are rare as most CFIs have their guard up. The experienced instructors are prepared for anything, from an unexpected mechanical issue, like a loss of oil pressure or the oil cap door popping open during the run-up, to the learner doing something silly and potentially dangerous because they don’t know any better—like trying to steer with the yoke on the ground and stomping on the rudder like it is the brake of a car.