I Learned About Flying From That: Beware of the Super Cell

Daniel Mack

Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 01:16 AM ET

Verified

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

Key Takeaways:

A young, inexperienced single pilot recounts a harrowing 1985 flight where he encountered a severe supercell after pressing on despite a malfunctioning weather radar and rapidly worsening conditions.
The pilot lost control of the aircraft inside the storm, experiencing extreme updrafts and downdrafts that caused instrument failure and significant structural damage to the plane.
He narrowly survived the ordeal, being ejected from the bottom of the storm at low altitude and making a miraculous landing with a severely damaged aircraft.
The terrifying experience taught him vital lessons about trusting instincts, respecting severe weather, and making safe operational decisions, especially regarding broken equipment and following other pilots into dangerous conditions.

See a mistake? Contact us.

It’s really weird how certain memories stick like fish in a hot iron skillet. So it is with a memory from my past, early in my flying career.

“Miserable” is the only description that fits for that Gulf Coast summer morning in July 1985. Don’t get me wrong: The sun was shining brightly, but the temperature and dew point were the same, and both were in the upper 70s. Anyone who is a pilot knows that, when those two numbers are in the 70s and low 80s, it is a recipe for boomers. I had a long day ahead, six legs and all single-pilot. I was to leave PNS (Pensacola, Florida) and fly to MSY (New Orleans, Louisiana) for the first leg, MSY to PFN (Panama City, Florida) for the second, then to TPA (Tampa, Florida) for the third, JAX (Jacksonville, Florida) for the fourth, back to PFN for the fifth and finally back to PNS.