Pilot Proficiency

Rocky Mountain Low

Tuesday, November 06, 2018 at 01:00 AM ET

Verified

My 1978 Beech Bonanza on the runway in Telluride, Colorado. Ben Younger

Key Takeaways:

The author recounts totaling their V-tail Bonanza during departure from Telluride Airport due to unexpected wind shear, but miraculously, all occupants survived without injury.
The accident, influenced by high density altitude and crosswinds, highlighted the critical importance of respecting environmental factors and strictly adhering to flight training.
Despite initially considering quitting flying after the traumatic incident, the author quickly reaffirmed their passion for aviation and has since purchased another V-tail Bonanza.
The author joins the magazine's editorial staff as an "inexperienced pilot" committed to sharing honest accounts of mistakes, lessons learned, and the realities of aviation from a "newbie" perspective.

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I totaled my airplane on May 27, 2018, at 10:30 in the morning.

Ben Younger is a TV and film writer/director, avid motorcyclist and surfer—but it’s being a pilot that he treats as a second profession. Find him on Instagram @thisisbenyounger.