Fly It Like You Stole It?

I am still a student, but after a long time and many obstacles, Im finally getting close to my checkride. Along the way, Ive had a few experiences, one of which started with me basically stealing the airplane.

Editorial Staff

Friday, March 10, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A recently solo-endorsed student pilot took an aircraft without informing anyone, subsequently became disoriented during flight, and lost contact with ATC over mountainous terrain.
Despite the initial error, the pilot remained calm, initiated self-recovery procedures by gaining altitude and re-establishing partial contact, and leveraged ATC's guidance to return safely to the airport.
The incident resulted in a strong rebuke from the pilot's CFI, who emphasized the critical importance of communication, authorized flight, and thorough knowledge of emergency procedures, particularly lost procedures.

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I am still a student, but after a long time and many obstacles, I’m finally getting close to my checkride. Along the way, I’ve had a few experiences, one of which started with me basically stealing the airplane.

I had just received my solo endorsement days earlier. Excited to fly almost anytime I wanted, I finally had some time and made a beeline to the airport. I grabbed the key, did my checks and away I went. So far, so good. Except I didn’t tell anyone—not my CFI, not his boss or anyone else for that matter. This mistake in and of itself may have gone unnoticed. Until I got lost, that is. Boy, did that attract unwanted attention.