In my first column I promised unmitigated honesty, so let’s begin there. Since last writing, a buried detail from the accident has unearthed itself from my memory. The way I told it last month, once I recovered from the near stall-spin there was so little runway left, I simply had to put the airplane down even though the gear wasn’t extended. There might be a bit more to it than that.
Fear of Flying
Key Takeaways:
- The author provides a more honest account of their recent aircraft accident, admitting a critical pilot error (failure to accelerate in ground effect) and reflecting on how memory can be a coping mechanism that obscures truth.
- Despite lingering fear and the difficulty of transitioning to a new identical V-tail Bonanza, the author reaffirms their deep commitment to flying after experiencing the profound loss of being grounded.
- The author details the process of acquiring a new aircraft, including the intentional decision to transfer their custom interior from the crashed plane as a cautionary reminder, signaling their resolve to learn from the past and face their fears to continue flying.
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