I Learned About Flying From That: What Now, Richard?

David G. Waller

Friday, June 24, 2011 at 05:56 PM ET

Verified

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

Key Takeaways:

A pilot encountered rapid and unforecasted weather deterioration (smoke and reduced visibility) on a return flight, highlighting the importance of real-time observation over outdated forecasts.
Faced with uncertain conditions, unreliable navigation, and no transponder, the pilot made the critical decision to turn back to a known area rather than pressing into deteriorating weather.
The pilot had to adapt their landing technique significantly to safely land at an unexpectedly short, unfamiliar private field after two go-arounds, emphasizing adjusting to non-normal conditions.
The overarching lesson learned was the importance of cutting losses and landing at the first safe opportunity rather than gambling on conditions improving further down the route.

See a mistake? Contact us.

(June 2011) For an 80-something-hour pilot, the Sacramento Valley was like a giant flying playpen for me. The foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains border the eastern side while the Coastal Range separates the valley from the Pacific Ocean on the west. The Cascades, including 14,000-foot Mount Shasta, form the northern boundary of the valley.

One weekend in October 1978 a friend and I decided to take a Cessna 150 from the local flying club at the Yuba County Airport (MYV), not far from Marysville, California, for a flight to Redding, California. It’s at the northwest end of the valley and is the last stop before heading into the Cascades. We heard there was a decent restaurant on the field. For two young airmen looking for something to do, we needed no other excuse.