In February 2009, I flew from my home base at the non-towered airport (X04) in Apopka, Fla., to Kissimmee, Fla. (ISM), to meet some friends and then head off to a nearby airport nearby for lunch. This is something we have done pretty much every Friday for years with the same bunch of guys. This day started out as every Friday had for years but didn’t end that way.
A pilot attempted a short VFR flight home despite rapidly deteriorating weather and contrary to the forecast, pushing his limits by flying increasingly low.
He narrowly avoided a collision with a 1400-foot communications tower while "scud running" in extremely low visibility near his destination.
Recognizing the grave danger, he made the critical decision to execute a 180-degree turn and climb into the clouds (using partial instrument training) to return to a safer airport.
The near-fatal encounter profoundly changed his respect for weather, instilling a lasting safety lesson reinforced by the daily sight of the tower he almost hit.
In February 2009, I flew from my home base at the non-towered airport (X04) in Apopka, Fla., to Kissimmee, Fla. (ISM), to meet some friends and then head off to a nearby airport nearby for lunch. This is something we have done pretty much every Friday for years with the same bunch of guys. This day started out as every Friday had for years but didn’t end that way.
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