Dumbest thing you've done in an airplane...
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog
First season flying a Beaver, taking off empty out of the little pisspot they called home, had to take off accross the oval shaped lake, into a 20 kt wind, right past the lodge and up the river.
Poured the coal to her, got it on the step and for about a millisecond wondered why it wasn't jumping off the water. Actually horked it off (as the mouth of the wingspan + 6" wide river is approaching quickly) so I'm pulling back on the yolk like it's trying to fight me and as I looked to the right, I noticed I was at eye level with my girlfriend who was doing the breakfast dishes in the kitchen, that's when I figured I should probably give it a little bit of flap .....the old dock hand noticed the flap setting..... the grumpy old owner didn't.....thank Christ !!
Poured the coal to her, got it on the step and for about a millisecond wondered why it wasn't jumping off the water. Actually horked it off (as the mouth of the wingspan + 6" wide river is approaching quickly) so I'm pulling back on the yolk like it's trying to fight me and as I looked to the right, I noticed I was at eye level with my girlfriend who was doing the breakfast dishes in the kitchen, that's when I figured I should probably give it a little bit of flap .....the old dock hand noticed the flap setting..... the grumpy old owner didn't.....thank Christ !!
Couple of buddies and I where up the lake fishing in a 172 on floats(had the cargo holds in the floats). As we took off I heard a bang, right away I knew that the left float hatch had opened up. so I leaned under my seat and grabbed a spare rope and told my buddy to tie it around his waist go out and shut it.
Thing is he thought that I was serious and was about to do it.
Ah foolish kids
Thing is he thought that I was serious and was about to do it.
Ah foolish kids
I had just been given the "all out" signal to begin the launch of the glider that was connected to the back of my Citabria. Just as I had added full power, I noticed that I had left the window open. However, instead of bringing the power to idle and shutting the window and resuming, or, just ignoring the window all together until I was in more of a position to close it safely, I decided to shove the stick between my legs, toes just barely on the pedals and proceeded to use my now two free hands to shut the window... all this as I am rolling down the runway. I took off without any further incident... at about 200' AGL, I asked myself what the @#$! was I thinking.
The next time something like that happens, hopefully I remember priority number one...
FLY THE AIRPLANE!!
The next time something like that happens, hopefully I remember priority number one...
FLY THE AIRPLANE!!
- tripleseven
- Rank 4
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- Joined: Fri May 14, 2004 9:56 am
Fortunately, the taxiway landing incident was in a 172.
Another dumb one, (although it happened in a simulator, thank my lucky stars), we were getting vectored for a vor/dme approach and had just leveled off, with Otto flying the airplane. We get our base turn, I spin the heading bug, then all hell breaks loose. The autopilot disconnects, stall warning goes off nose drops!! Well I firewalled the thing, continued the turn to intercept, got back up to altitude and finished the approach. I decided to hand fly the rest of it, because I was afraid of forgetting to add power to level off again!!!
Another dumb one, (although it happened in a simulator, thank my lucky stars), we were getting vectored for a vor/dme approach and had just leveled off, with Otto flying the airplane. We get our base turn, I spin the heading bug, then all hell breaks loose. The autopilot disconnects, stall warning goes off nose drops!! Well I firewalled the thing, continued the turn to intercept, got back up to altitude and finished the approach. I decided to hand fly the rest of it, because I was afraid of forgetting to add power to level off again!!!
- twinpratts
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- Location: The Wild Wild West.
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I'm sure anyone who's flown a Navajo has done this. Forgot to switch from the outboard tanks to the inboards, and got some unexpected yaw!! The stupid part was I did it 3 times in one day in the winter, same airplane, same engine. I came to work the next day and maintenance were swearing pilots up and down as they replaced jugs on the Ho!
I was working for an operator in Flin Flon flying a Norseman. The operator had brothers who operated a similar service in Kenora. I was sent to Kenora to help out during their busy moose hunting season. I arrived in Kenora at noon Sunday. The boss's wife, in her finest church going clothes was there to catch me at the dock. Approached the dock with too much speed so I swung wide for another try at it but wifey caught the wing strut. Wifey was carried off the dock and into the drink. A great way to make a first impression. That's as dumb as it gets.
The average pilot, despite the somewhat swaggering exterior, is very much capable of such feelings as love, affection, intimacy and caring.
These feelings just don't involve anyone else.
These feelings just don't involve anyone else.
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- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 7:50 pm
dumbest thing
Is there a prize????
Single pilot, Twin Otter. Tundra tires. Arctic summer, offstrip.
Enroute, friction lock fails on power lever. Arm gets tired holding it forward.
Finds nylon string in flight bag. Ties power lever to dash.
Tip-toes up a shoreline inlet, between hills, ceiling and visibility going down.
Winds up maybe 200 feet above camp, low visibility, keeping in tight, trying to orient the "airstrip" between tents and parked single otter.
Flies tight circles at low speed, props up, full flap, turn final, reduce power.........er...checklist does not include string!!!!!
"Fly the plane first" most urgent, so can't look for knife. Continue flying steep turns until knot untied. Damn grannie!!!!
Single pilot, Twin Otter. Tundra tires. Arctic summer, offstrip.
Enroute, friction lock fails on power lever. Arm gets tired holding it forward.
Finds nylon string in flight bag. Ties power lever to dash.
Tip-toes up a shoreline inlet, between hills, ceiling and visibility going down.
Winds up maybe 200 feet above camp, low visibility, keeping in tight, trying to orient the "airstrip" between tents and parked single otter.
Flies tight circles at low speed, props up, full flap, turn final, reduce power.........er...checklist does not include string!!!!!
"Fly the plane first" most urgent, so can't look for knife. Continue flying steep turns until knot untied. Damn grannie!!!!
- cloudrunner
- Rank 5
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- Location: Parallel to the Swell
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- Rank 0
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Out one day building time for my CPL in a 172 with my aviation enthusiast friend along for the ride. Giving him the old rollercoaster ride for that split second of partial weightlessness (reviewing lessons of course) when I had a first hand encounter with the laws of gravity. Poked 'er down a wee bit too long one time only to be reminded that without gravity, a carburetor loses full pressure, and whithout fuel, an engine...well you know the rest of the story. Didn't quit altogether but close enough only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and lawndarts.
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- Rank 1
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Up north, October (brrr...), big load of fish boxes in a cessna...
So I'm coming up to the HUGEST dock I've ever seen in northern flying, gotta be 60 feet long. For some reason I plan to dock at the far end, the I guess cause it was driest part of the almost-submerged dock. I climb out early (seat won't go back, too many fish boxes) and stand on the float, ready to hop off and tie up.
Bad docking, I'm a little wide....think fast...jump? or climb in and start 'er up and try again, looking like an amateur?
SO I jump. Onto the algae-covered mess, wipe out on my face and drop the rope to the plane, do a HUGE belly-lunge to try and retrieve it, almost slide into lake river otter-style, but catch myself. Plane peacefully floating away, me, stunned, covered in green slime.
Luckily, close friend in plane (not usual) who I can scream at to "grab the paddle...in the back" at the top of my lungs.
I'm sure the indians are still telling that one around the campfire.
So I'm coming up to the HUGEST dock I've ever seen in northern flying, gotta be 60 feet long. For some reason I plan to dock at the far end, the I guess cause it was driest part of the almost-submerged dock. I climb out early (seat won't go back, too many fish boxes) and stand on the float, ready to hop off and tie up.
Bad docking, I'm a little wide....think fast...jump? or climb in and start 'er up and try again, looking like an amateur?
SO I jump. Onto the algae-covered mess, wipe out on my face and drop the rope to the plane, do a HUGE belly-lunge to try and retrieve it, almost slide into lake river otter-style, but catch myself. Plane peacefully floating away, me, stunned, covered in green slime.
Luckily, close friend in plane (not usual) who I can scream at to "grab the paddle...in the back" at the top of my lungs.
I'm sure the indians are still telling that one around the campfire.
Took a friend flying knowing he had just eaten cinnamon rolls.
Took my sister flying knowing she may get sick
I was in a hold learning my IFR and when I was turning inbound I kept going around to my outbound heading again I couldn't figure out why my timer was at 3 min and I haden't passed the VOR. First and last time i will do that.
Agreed to Fly up to Stanhope on my second solo x-country. You have to know the airport to see what a mistake that was.
Took my sister flying knowing she may get sick
I was in a hold learning my IFR and when I was turning inbound I kept going around to my outbound heading again I couldn't figure out why my timer was at 3 min and I haden't passed the VOR. First and last time i will do that.
Agreed to Fly up to Stanhope on my second solo x-country. You have to know the airport to see what a mistake that was.
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Taking off at Norway House in a 180 on floats. I wasn't quite on the step, when the front seat mounts let go. There I was in the back, on my back, going across the bay,full bore. That's how I learned to KEEP YOUR HAND ON THE THROTTLE ON TAKEOFF!
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