When I did my XC night dual, my instructor and I landed at a small nontowered airport. It was one of those very dark nights with no moon. After we touched down, he asked if I remembered everything. I thought I had and was feeling relieved that I made a smooth landing. Then he told me to taxi, and giggled when we turned onto the black hole of a taxi-way. “Forgot to turn on the landing light,” I said as his giggle erupted into laughter.
We then flew back to our home airport, which was towered. As I was about to turn on the landing light, he said, “It just burned out, leave it off.” The landing was a non-issue.
A few years ago, I flew to an unfamiliar airport in order to go to an Eagles concert. I had called ahead because the only FBO advertised they closed at 10pm and I would not be taking off until about 11pm. The FBO said, “No worries. We have some VIPs who will not be leaving until about 11:30, so we’ll be here.” My response was, “I’m guessing I’m going to the same event as them, only facing a different direction.” Silence for a moment, and then she started laughing and just said, “Yup!.”
When I Landed, I was taxied up to the only other plane parked at the FBO; a beautiful Gulfstream.
The concert was fantastic. Glad I got to see and listen to Glenn Frey before he passed.
I wanted to beat the crowd so bugged out when there were only a couple songs left. It was a dark, moonless night. When I discovered the taxi/landing light was burned out, I fiddled around trying to find if it was a loose wire or something else I could fix. While I was doing that, the black Suburbans pulled up and the band hopped out and entered the Gulfstream. I was jealous. They were gone within a minute or two.
After contemplating whether to spend the night, I recalled the dual XC, and had been lately flying at night a lot. I told the tower my light was burned out and they cranked up all the lights. It was great. I flew home to my non-towered airport, landed without incident, and gave thanks to God that I am so fortunate to have a great life, great wife..., and a Mooney.