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:

An experienced pilot, while guiding newer pilots in off-airport landings, witnesses a friend's plane flip over after hitting a hidden rock, fortunately without serious injury to the pilot.
The incident highlights the crucial importance of understanding individual pilot skill levels and aircraft limitations, as not all pilots or planes can safely handle the same challenging terrain.
Key takeaways for off-airport flying include thorough site assessment (multiple passes, slow flybys), the necessity of always flying with a wingman for support, and managing risks through practice and honest self-assessment.

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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.