robert7467

Thank you guys for the words of encouragement. On the ground, it's much easier to evaluate this, and make sure it doesn't happen again. There is no worse feeling, than knowing my family was in danger, when its my job to protect them.

As a new pilot, I have failed myself, as well as my family. With my new ticket, we decided to go to St Louis to take our kids to the City Museum. Weather going up was perfect. We decided to leave out Sunday. I checked the weather, and in St Louis and Memphis the weather was showing 10 miles of visibility, and clouds at 25000. In route, it showed the tops at 2500 broken over a small area of my route. When we were flying, visibility was good, but hazy. We ended up over the layer as expected. Then we started getting the illusion that the clouds were rising, and the haze was giving the illusion that the top layer (25000) was connecting with the bottom. With the haze, it gave us the illusion that we were going straight into a wall of clouds. I did not feel comfortable proceeding on course. I saw that we were really close to an airport, and there was a big hole that I could punch through and still stay within VFR minimums, and I started my decent. When we got under that layer, the airport was about 5 miles away, and I proceeded on course. The ceilings were closing in fast, and visibility was rapidly declining. At this point I knew that I could not proceed on course, and I either had find a field to land in, or find a hole back up. Luckily I saw a blue hole going back up, and I figured altitude is my friend at this point. I proceeded to climb, and at that point I decided not to look out the window, and just focus on my instruments, and maintain proper pitch. I just kept telling myself, don’t look out the window, focus on instruments. Finally we were above the layer, and I called flight watch, and he assured me what I already knew, that the clouds were at 25000, and I was almost out of that layer and Memphis was clear. We ended up landing safely to Memphis. My wife is the true hero in this because she stayed clam. She said that she was able to stay calm, because I let her know every move I was making. She knew we were in a bad situation because sweat was running down my face. When we got on the ground, my wife says when we were punching through the hole going back up, all she could see is white for about 5 minutes. At this point, I don’t care if this turns into a bashing session, or if the FAA sees this and yanks my ticket. The reason I am posting this is to save a life. Weather is something I don’t play with, and my minimums are really high. Here is what I would have done differently, now that I have had time to rethink this: Don’t descend into unknown conditions. Don’t fly over a layer of clouds, even though the weather information says its ok and you are still within VFR Minimums. Call flight watch prior to making drastic decisions. If I am ever going to fly again, get an instrument rating ASAP. Also, I think instructors need to take their students actually through the clouds, because foggles don’t let you see the actual illusions of going through a cloud. Luckily, I have had a CFII actually take me through the clouds. The first time I actually panicked, but his words “don’t look out the window, focus on your instruments” is what was going through my mind during this situation, and it saved my life. Instructors, I am begging you. Take your students through actual clouds. If I just had foggle training, my family would be dead. I still believe, under the right conditions, GA is safer than a car, but I am kind of hesitant of whether I am going to fly again. I know I am going to get bashed, it’s much easier to analyze this situation on the ground. Luckily, my training kicked in, and I am still alive as a result. There is no worse feeling, than knowing what I put my helpless family through. Looking up at the clouds this morning made me sick to my stomach. I made a lot of poor decisions that day, but luckily I am alive to think about them. The only reason I am posting this, is to prevent someone from repeating the same mistakes as I made.

I don't know if its family factor. All landings so far with my family, have been greasers. Love it.

Yeah, it was unexpected that he was going to fly with me. The day after my checkride I had my wife take me to the checkride airport to pick my plane. I asked her if they were going to watch me takeoff, and she said just take him with me. Next time he will have a headset, booster seat, and a flight suit. The plane is sound proofed, and the flight was 7 minutes.

My first passenger as a private pilot. I think he has the bug.

No, they did that on first solo. After the checkride, he just shook my hand, and said I am a private pilot.

Well, let's just say that we covered EVERYTHING. I dont know if he was trying to bust me on something or what, but I do know one thing, I passed with flying colors.

It was grueling to say the least. Oral 4 1/2 hrs, flying 3hrs.

Thanks

Well, finally after weather and sched issues, I took my checkride and passed.

Do they help you with your Squak List?

I hope bird shit is not corrosive.

Basically you want it bullet proof.. Like I said liability on used items can be as low as .20 cents per pound...

Or I meant doesn't change trucks at all.

I am in the shipping business. I would box the hell out if it, then crate it, and plaster fragile stickers all over it. Be careful if the carriers liability, since its considered as a used product.... From where to where is it going to? If its a short haul you might be able to get an exclusive truck where it doesn't change trucks a lot.

What would you do if he tried to bite your ear off on short final?

Would it be beneficial to change our planes to experimental, so we can have all this cool stuff?

Amen Cruiser. At least we now have the iPad, so we can get cool stuff too. What's really sad, is that I have to scavenge my buddies garmin 155, and pay almost 2500 to install it, so I can have an ifr GPS to replace my old faulty VOR....

I know most of the pilots at my airport are not A&P's, so how is that little hangar elf able to carry those huge toolboxes I see in people's hangars?

I love those money saving hangar elf's...

Went in a couple weeks ago, and got the oral out of the way (4hrs), and as far as the flying portion, bad weather moved in, and we have to resched. He went out of town for a couple weeks. Will advise.

Wow, considering the terrain, the pilot did a wonderful job putting her down. The fuselage was intact. I wonder if not having shoulder belts had anything to do with his death. Luckily I purchased some shoulder belts from Alan, and I will be installing them soon. This is a perfect example of why you need shoulder belts. My prayers go out to the family.

I am sure I will do fine... Just a little nervous...

I got the jitters on the oral portion, but I think I will be fine....

Dont think about airplanes the night before? That might be the hardest part of my checkride.