New book offers a riveting look at pilot mistakes—and how we can learn from them

Former General Aviation News columnist Jeffrey Madison has released a new book, “YIKES! 100 Smart Pilots and the Dumb Things They Did Yet Lived to Tell About ‘Em.”

The book from the airline pilot and aviation safety expert takes readers into the cockpit for a journey through some of the most harrowing — and educational — close calls in aviation history.

Drawing on real incidents reported to NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System, the book compiles 100 true stories of skilled pilots who made critical mistakes but lived to share the lessons they learned, according to Madison.

From simple lapses in judgment to complex failures in communication, these tales offer a rare glimpse into the human factors that can make or break a flight, he says.

“YIKES! taps into the time-honored tradition of “hangar flying,” where pilots gather to swap stories of their most memorable (and often most embarrassing) experiences,” Madison says. “But these are not just any stories. Each chapter in YIKES! is a cautionary tale, revealing how even the best-trained pilots can make mistakes —and how those mistakes can be avoided.”

Madison’s engaging storytelling, honed through years of writing the popular “Human Factors” column in General Aviation News, makes this collection a must-read for pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and any fan of stories filled with thrills, chills, and misadventures.

A Mission to Pay It Forward

For Madison, YIKES! is more than just a book — it’s a mission.

“I wrote YIKES! to pay it forward,” says Madison. “The pilots in this book shared their stories for our benefit. My goal is to take that generosity and turn it into something tangible for the next generation of aviators.”

Madison’s ambitious plan is to sell 1 million copies of YIKES! and use the proceeds to purchase 100 Redbird full-motion flight simulators or fund $100,000 scholarships for aviation and STEM programs across the country.

“With the help of readers, we can help launch scores of diverse careers in aviation and aerospace,” he says.

The book is now available as an eBook or audio book for $20, while the paperback book is $30, which includes the author’s signature.

For more information: YikesTheBook.com