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 survived a severe plane crash at Telluride Airport, totaling his V-tail Bonanza after encountering unexpected wind shear post-takeoff, with all occupants (himself, a passenger, and his dog) miraculously uninjured.
Contributing factors to the accident included high density altitude, increasing crosswinds, and underestimated wind shear, but his adherence to stall recovery training prevented a catastrophic stall-spin.
After initially contemplating giving up flying, the author returned to aviation, purchased a new aircraft, and is joining an editorial staff to honestly share his experiences, mistakes, and lessons learned as a less seasoned pilot.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.