I Learned About Flying From That: Fat, Dumb and Happy

Jim Gunn

Friday, January 17, 2014 at 10:25 PM ET

Verified

** To see more of Barry Ross' aviation art, go
to barryrossart.com.**

Key Takeaways:

A pilot successfully executed an emergency gear-up landing in a plowed field after a catastrophic engine failure in a Mooney 201 at 4,500 feet MSL, resulting in only minor aircraft damage and no injuries.
During the emergency, the pilot effectively declared intentions, established best glide speed, evaluated landing options, and made a critical decision to land in a suitable field rather than attempting to reach distant airports or hazardous roads.
The incident highlights the importance of pre-flight emergency planning, maintaining aircraft control, thoroughly analyzing the situation, adhering to a well-defined plan, and filtering out extraneous advice.

See a mistake? Contact us.

There I was: fat, dumb and happy. My friend Tim and I had taken my 1977 Mooney 201 from Camden, South Carolina, to Myrtle Beach to get the oxygen cylinder filled. We filed IFR on the outbound leg at 7,000 feet msl and had to fly the ILS at Myrtle Beach to get through some thin, low clouds. We were probably legal for a visual approach, but we flew the ILS for practice anyway (it’s still free!).

On the return trip, the ceiling and visibility were unlimited, so we flew back VFR with flight following. Tim is a U.S. Air Force Sikorsky HH-60G pilot, flight instructor and evaluator. He only recently “saw the light” and got his fixed-wing license, so I let him fly home for practice.