Pilot Peril: ‘Kenny’s Upside Down!’ the Voice Crackled Back

Friend’s backcountry landing went sideways but became proverbial teaching moment.

Jeremiah Bigelow

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The running joke is, 'It’s always smooth for Bigelow.' It was. [Image: Joel Kimmel]

Key Takeaways:

Off-airport flying, though exhilarating, carries inherent risks, as demonstrated by an incident where a pilot flipped his plane due to an unseen rock and hard braking at an unfamiliar site.
The article emphasizes the crucial importance of understanding individual pilot and aircraft limitations, as well as thoroughly assessing potential landing sites for hidden hazards.
Always flying with a wingman is vital for safety in backcountry conditions, providing essential support and options when an ordinary landing unexpectedly turns into an emergency.

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It was a brisk November morning. The weather was giving off all the inklings of a good day to fly. No snow on the ground yet, light winds, slightly overcast skies, and temperatures still hanging in the high 50s and low 60s.

My buddy Brad had flown into my strip—a 1,500-foot cow pasture with a dogleg turn and the occasional mound of manure, courtesy of my cows. Every time I cleaned my airplane, it seemed like the next takeoff or landing splattered fresh cow pie across the wings.