Racing a Storm Is Not the Best Choice

Ferrying an airplane for a friend takes a turn for the worse when a storm prompts a hasty reaction.

Andy Gelston

Friday, August 12, 2022 at 01:15 PM ET

Verified

[Illustration: Joel Kimmel]

Key Takeaways:

A pilot ferries a newly acquired antique Piper J3L-65 Cub from Virginia to Wisconsin but is forced to make an emergency landing due to an approaching storm.
The pilot endures a challenging overnight stay in the plane on an unverified, overgrown grass strip, contending with a storm, mosquitoes, and cold.
The following morning, the pilot executes a risky takeoff from the difficult strip, later reflecting on several poor judgments made regarding weather, landing site assessment, and departure conditions.

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“Would you go to Hanover County, Virginia, and fly the Cub I just bought to my grass strip in southeastern Wisconsin?” A friend in need asked me—and I was happy to make the trip.

“Sure.” So I flew commercial into Richmond where the seller picked me up, then introduced me to the prewar Piper J3L-65 Cub. She was original and in remarkably good shape, so I prepped her for the trip and slept on the FBO’s couch that night.