I now have thousands of hours in my logbooks, but despite my best efforts, none represent a perfect flight. Many come close, but there was always something I could have done just a little bit better. So I reflected on the opposite type of flight entry: Which one represented my worst flight? That would be easy. Hands down, it was my first solo flight in the first airplane I ever owned.
I Learned About Flying From That: My Worst Flight
Key Takeaways:
- The author's first solo flight in his newly purchased tailwheel Cessna 120 was fraught with severe operational errors, beginning with a dangerous takeoff and culminating in two separate engine failures.
- The engine failures stemmed from critical fuel management mistakes: an incorrect fuel selector position during climbout and fuel starvation due to slosh during a prolonged crosswind landing approach.
- Despite the series of near-disasters, the author emerged safely and committed to a lifelong practice of meticulously learning from every mistake to improve his aviation judgment and skills.
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