I Learned About Flying From That

Eric Voth, M.d.

Thursday, November 23, 2006 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

While on an IFR practice flight with his son, the pilot experienced a complete electrical failure, including radios and navigation, while flying in instrument meteorological conditions.
Despite initial panic, the pilot focused on flying the aircraft, descended out of the clouds, and landed safely at the airport using visual references and eventually a handheld radio.
The cause of the electrical failure was discovered to be both alternator switches being off, likely from recent repairs and overlooked due to a distracted pre-flight checklist.
Key takeaways include the critical importance of meticulous, uninterrupted pre-flight checks, staying calm and focused during emergencies, and having essential backup equipment readily accessible.

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One Saturday morning in the early 1990s my six-year-old son and I headed out for a little IFR adventure. Ceilings were 700-900 feet, and the winds were mild. In Topeka, Kansas, we have the benefit of two controlled airports. Billard has a very active instruction and general aviation program, and Forbes is a former Air Force base with two runways; the longer is 12,800 feet. You have to try to miss it. There are numerous instrument approaches at the two airports that afford excellent opportunities to practice approaches on such a day.

My son and I unhangered our Seneca, performed a reasonably thorough preflight and then set about getting started for our adventure. I have always prided myself with being prepared for unforeseen situations, and carried all the requisite charts, a handheld radio and a survival kit in my flight bag. We were filed with Kansas City Center for a “round robin” from Billard to Forbes with multiple instrument approaches. After we were cleared for our plans, I performed the run up and checklist. My son was in a great mood and I was happy to have him with me on such a nice cloudy morning. We conversed as I went through the checklist, and then we were ready for departure.