'Never Quit Flying The Airplane'

‘Never Quit Flying The Airplane’

Saturday, May 06, 2023 at 08:21 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

A student pilot witnessed a fatal engine failure crash where the pilot's panic and decision to attempt returning to the airport resulted in a catastrophic impact, despite a safer ditching option being nearby.
The flight instructor utilized this tragic event as a critical lesson, emphasizing the unforgiving nature of flying and the vital importance of calm, rational decision-making during emergencies.
The core takeaway stressed the necessity of prioritizing safety, always "flying the airplane," having options, and avoiding panic to prevent dire outcomes in aviation.

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I was a student pilot with approximately 20 hours. During one of my flights back to my home airport, I was talking to the tower and was given approach instructions. Then the frequency lit up with an emergency call, the pilot reporting engine failure. The airplane had lost its engine on takeoff and the pilot was trying to return to the airport.

All the tower’s traffic was put into a hold and I was instructed to make 360-degree turns over the Interstate highway, which was approximately five miles from the airport. I heard the pilot and passenger screaming over the radio in complete panic, and then I saw a large fireball and smoke near the airport.