Features

Your gyros need more than a vac pump. Keep the system healthy and your instruments will often tell you when troubles afoot

Special VFR gives you the option to land or take off when the weather is down, but the price is higher risk

If an accident is imminent, orient the impact forces so your body is in the best position to cope – and then ride it out

Flying IFR with a lightly equipped airplane can be legal, but your options dwindle even if nothing goes wrong

Accidents on go-arounds reflect poor approaches, delayed decisions, lousy control and incorrect procedures

Grinding away on the starter is no way to wake up a cold airplane. Warm it and prime it like you know what youre doing

Static electricity can combine with fueling operations in unfortunate ways. Self-serve fuel only increases the chance of trouble

Your preflight planning should enable you to answer the question: Is the destination airport a friend or foe?

In this group of three airplanes, Beechs 36 series seems to shine, with an admirably low overall accident rate

Picking a runner-up spot for a landing should be an exercise for all flights, not just those poor-weather instrument flights