Register

Going Home Nordo

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot experienced a near-complete electrical failure on a cross-country flight in his Cessna 140, losing radio, transponder, and reliable GPS power.
  • After an unsuccessful repair attempt, the pilot hand-propped the aircraft and successfully completed the challenging 3.5-hour flight using traditional pilotage and paper charts, arriving just before dark.
  • Key takeaways from the experience include the importance of hydration, pacing oneself during stressful situations, and always carrying current paper charts as a reliable navigation backup.
See a mistake? Contact us.

My little Cessna 140 had just gotten out of a four-month top-end overhaul and it was time to stretch its legs, with a 786-sm flight to Des Moines, Iowa, my hometown. It would replicate my late Dad’s flight in the opposite direction with a few more fuel stops.

After watching the weather for 10 days, I launched. Being conservative, I scheduled 2.5-hour legs with an overnight stop, dividing eight hours of flying into two days. Uneventfully, I arrived at my destination the following day.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE