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I Learned About Flying From That: Rock ‘N’ Ride

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Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot experienced a catastrophic engine failure mid-flight during a routine Cessna 182 ferry mission with his date, Loretta, requiring an immediate emergency response.
  • Despite an oil-covered windscreen, strong tailwinds, and rapid descent, the pilot skillfully executed a dead-stick landing back at the departure airport, safely bringing the aircraft down with minimal runway to spare.
  • The incident, caused by a missing engine intake tube gasket, deeply traumatized Loretta and ultimately led to the end of their relationship.
  • The experience underscored the critical importance of exceptionally thorough pre-flight inspections, especially on post-maintenance aircraft, and challenged the pilot's perception of romance developing from shared peril.
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Relationships are often defined by shared experiences. So was the case with Loretta and me. When the tower asked if we wanted to declare an emergency, my date’s panicked expression suggested that our future together might require more than a safe landing.

The Cessna 182 ferry mission was to be routine. N15AP had just been returned to service following an annual and needed to be repositioned from Burlington, Vermont, to Warren-­Sugarbush Airport. Like many newer pilots seeking flight time, I had made my interest in ferrying airplanes known to the local maintenance shops. The pay was terrible, but ferrying did give me the opportunity to fly a lot of different models. And, to the point, my logbook totals were rapidly increasing.

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