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:

A recreational off-airport flying trip among friends led to a pilot flipping his Kitfox after hitting an unseen rock during a landing, fortunately without injury, and he later rebuilt the plane.
The incident underscored critical lessons for off-airport flying, particularly the importance of understanding individual pilot and aircraft limitations and the danger of hidden obstacles on seemingly clear terrain.
Key safety takeaways include thoroughly assessing landing sites (e.g., with multiple passes), the paramount need for a wingman in remote areas, and managing inherent risks through continuous practice, communication, and appropriate aircraft equipment.

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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.