As a CFI, I should remain alert, aware of the situation and environment at all times and ready to take corrective action. I did not do that yesterday.
A safety of flight issue
KEDJ has a very high amount of training activity conducting night landings in single and multi-engine aircraft. An inaccurate PAPI and runway lighting system is a safety of flight issue, in my view.
Student’s second solo thwarted by bird strike
About 50 feet over the runway and prior to touchdown, my student states she “hit something and there was a loud thud on the right side of the plane.”
Cropduster buzzes highway to avoid power line
I was coming south toward the highway and the power line spraying corn. As I approached the highway and wires I realized that I could not make it up and over the wire without hitting it. I saw that there was sufficient room to go under the wire and avoid a wire strike and accident.
Mooney’s yoke comes loose while landing
With landing assured, I began to ease the power back while rounding out into a flare. At about 5 feet AGL, the right control yoke came loose in my hand and the aircraft immediately pitched down toward the runway.
An unnecessary hazard
I write this in the hope that seaplanes no longer be allowed to take off under a traffic pattern of a non-towered airport when the use of radios are not required.
First solo goes awry
I applied brakes and then they locked up. I felt the aircraft skid and lost control. It hit a sign off the runway and then came to a stop in the grass area of the runway, during which two of the landing gears failed.
Cirrus pilot causes chaos in pattern
A friend in an aircraft on the ground made a radio call warning us that it appeared that the Cirrus was “right on top of us” and to break off.
Engine trouble in flight provides valuable teaching moment
As a low-time private pilot and student instrument pilot, this was an incredible learning opportunity and lesson that I will remember for the rest of my flying career.