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 newer pilot's off-airport landing at a seemingly flat farm field resulted in his Kitfox flipping over due to a hidden rock and hard braking, though he emerged unhurt.
The incident highlighted the critical importance of understanding individual pilot skill levels and aircraft limitations for off-airport landings, as not all pilots or planes can handle the same terrain.
Key takeaways for backcountry flying include meticulous site assessment through multiple passes for hidden hazards, and always flying with a wingman for safety and support in remote locations.

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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.