Why Stalling Is Every Pilot’s Worst Nightmare

Air Force veteran recounts stressful experiences from close stall calls.

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

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The author said, ‘Nothing happened for several seconds, then…wham! I was diving straight down in a violent spin. I had never seen a spin, let alone been in one.’ [Illustration: Joel Kimmel]

Key Takeaways:

During Vietnam War-era flight training, the author, an Air Force electronics engineer, accidentally entered an uncommanded spin in a Cessna 150 but recovered successfully using techniques taught by his instructor.
Later, flying a Piper Super Cub, the author's plane was flipped upside down at low altitude by B-52 wake turbulence, instinctively recovering by pushing the nose down, a reflex attributed to his instructor's emphasis on emergency procedures.
The author suggests that in surprise situations, pilots should first react by aiming the nose downward, and advocates for beginning students to receive actual demonstrations of spins and unusual attitudes.

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During the Vietnam War, I served as an electronics engineer in the Air Force. I built and tested electronic gear for counterinsurgency warfare. I was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. I flew weekly on test flights and loved the adventure of flying in all the elderly bombers, fighters, and cargo planes.

My vision wasn’t good enough for flight training. That was probably for the best. I don’t have the fighter pilot personality. Fortunately for me, the base had a flying club equipped with a Cessna 150 for pilot training.