Pilots Must Recognize Not-If-But-When Scenarios

It only takes one close call to teach an aviator about the importance of preparation.

Paul Strickland

Friday, July 03, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

After a complete power loss in his RV-7A, the author made a successful highway landing. [Credit: Paul Strickland]

Key Takeaways:

An experienced pilot recounts a sudden, catastrophic engine and avionics failure in his RV-7A, forcing him to execute a deadstick landing on a highway.
He attributes his successful outcome to decades of rigorous military and airline emergency training, which instilled a disciplined response and helped overcome the "startle factor."
The article emphasizes the critical importance of mandatory preflight emergency briefings and consistent scenario practice for all pilots, advocating for a structured approach like "maintain aircraft control, analyze the situation, and take the proper action" to prepare for any critical incident.

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Some pilots like to embellish on their “saves” to inflate their own stature. Not me. I didn’t want this to happen, and I don’t want to experience another one. In fact, I’d prefer not to write this column.

However, the old saying “not if, but when” applies to October 7, 2025, when my Van’s RV-7A engine spewed its last gasp and became an inefficient nose ballast. Pilots fear single-engine failure for good reason—it’s scary. I hope this helps the next poor schmuck faced with the reality of engine failure.