AOPA Never Again

AOPA presents the "Never Again" series in AOPA Pilot magazine and online to allow pilots to learn from the experiences of others.

Leisure
Hobbies
Aviation
101
The eyes have it (September 2017)
 Always perform a visual inspection of the fuel in your tanks. By Jerry Hawkins.
9 min
102
Check the checklist (August 2017)
A hand-me-down checklist causes problems during an engine failure after takeoff. By James Carter. 
9 min
103
The Little Voice Within Me (July 2017)
There's certainly something wrong with a Skyhawk that runs through its entire fuel supply in an hour and a half. But if there's no obvious leak, where do you look next? By Doren Weston
11 min
104
Smoke screen (June 2017)
 A Cessna 210 flying in the Bahamas is suddenly filled with blinding smoke. What would you do? 
8 min
105
Surprise encounter (May 2017)
In this episode, a Zenith 601 XLB pilot finds himself unexpectedly upside down--twice. You might want to grab that helmet and ride along in "Surprise Encounter," by Bill Thomas. 
9 min
106
Just like in the real world (April 2017)
Erratic airspeed indications, including a 70-knot indication while plugged into ground power. You trust your ASI, don't you? Compare your answer in "Just Like the Real World," by Harvey R. Greenberg. 
6 min
107
Gang bar down (March 2017)
High over the North Atlantic, a King Air pilot inadvertently causes a complete electrical shutdown. Stray on the oxygen and fly along with "Gang Bar Down," by Dan Gleason. 
8 min
108
Hatchet job (February 2017)
When the gear fails to retract, a Grumman Goose pilot attempts an extraordinary repair with a most unusual tool. 
10 min
109
Airshow awkwardness (January 2017)
A low-time Cessna pilot pays a social price for an incomplete preflight. 
7 min
110
Never Again: Nose to the Grindstone (Dec. 2016)
Main gear down and locked, nose gear still up in the nose. What would you do when a prop strike is the least of your worries? Find out what a cargo pilot did!
7 min
111
Never Again: Suddenly PIC (Nov. 2016)
An iced-up Baron is hard to land when the pilot can't see out the front. Pull on your warm gloves and ride along!
8 min
112
Never Again: Nowhere to Turn (Oct. 2016)
A Colorado pilot on a VFR mountain cross-country has few options when encountering a wall of clouds. Oxygen might be a good idea!
9 min
113
Never Again: Big Bang (Sept. 2016)
A Cherokee pilot is cautioned to not to try to scare his passenger, only to find out how scary an engine failure is for all aboard. It's clench time!
7 min
114
Never Again: Slip Slidin' Away (Aug. 2016)
A ski landing on the Alaskan ice succeeds ... by inches.
7 min
115
Never Again: Half Full (July 2016)
A hurried takeoff induces an Arrow pilot to miss a fundamental engine control.
8 min
116
Never Again: Mayday over Illinois (May 2016)
A Bonanza pilot suffers a catastrophic engine failure but lands safely using a synthetic vision system.
9 min
117
Never Again: Where Lesser Angels Roam (June 2016)
Hot weather, an overloaded airplane, and bad advice create a dangerous chain of events. Be glad you're on the ground!
10 min
118
Never Again: Up in Smoke (April 2016)
In the chaos of a forest fire, a reconnaissance pilot forgets rule one: fly the plane.
7 min
119
Never Again: Imagination or Insight - Alternato...
When the alternator fails, the battery is supposed to be good for 30 minutes. But when it quits after only 18, how do you get the gear down?
10 min
120
Never Again: Once upon a Night Flight Dreary (J...
A dual alternator failure in IFR, at night, on a twin just out of annual - what could possibly go wrong? Have your flashlight and raincoat handy and climb into the right seat.
7 min
121
Never Again: Engine-out over Okefenokee Swamp (...
The possibility of landing at night in the country's biggest swamp motivates a Cherokee to fly an engine-out approach very carefully.
8 min
122
Never Again: Scud Runner (Dec. 2015)
A newly-minted instrument pilot falls into the impending clearance trap. Cinch up that harness and expect some turbulence!
7 min
123
Never Again: A Thump on Final (July. 2015)
An unsuspecting cross-country pilot gets "thumped" by an F-16.
8 min
124
Never Again: Speaking Up (Aug. 2015)
Poor decisions are made to satisfy an impatient right-seater.
8 min
125
Never Again: The Long and Winding River (Sept. ...
A 172 pilot on a family outing encounters the perils of flying IFR - standing for "I Follow Rivers."
10 min