I Learned About Flying From That

47:23

137. Electrical Failure Above the Clouds

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/09/30

In this episode, host Carl Valeri is joined by Eric Crump, Vice President of the Aerospace Center for Excellence, as he recounts a critical situation during a commercial pilot training flight. While flying at night in a Cessna 172RG high above a cloud deck, Eric and his crew smell electrical smoke in the cockpit. With no visible horizon and freezing temperatures threatening rapid ice accumulation in the cloud layer, they are forced to shut down the master switch, leaving them completely without

en

29:52

136. Engine Failure in the Pattern

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/09/17

When an explosive engine failure at 900 feet AGL completely covers the windscreen in oil and cuts all electrical power, routine checkride prep suddenly becomes a low-altitude emergency. Flight instructor Mike Pavlik and student pilot Nicolas Kirchner join host Carl Valeri to recount their harrowing Piper PA-28 flight out of Lakeland, Florida. They break down the split-second decisions required to manage a violent mechanical failure, lost communications, cockpit smoke, and pattern traffic—delivering

en

23:12

135. Should We Cross?

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/08/26

In this episode of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri is joined by Boeing 777 pilot and aviation attorney Chris Pezalla to recount a challenging flight during the COVID era. After diverting to a Central Florida airport to wait out a storm, Chris faced an unexpected runway incursion while taxiing for departure in wet weather with obscured airport markings. Chris shares how communicating with Air Traffic Control restored safety, how he handled a follow-up inquiry from the FSDO, and why

en

19:57

134. Right Airplane, Wrong Airport

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/08/12

What happens when a well-intentioned Flight Instructor lets a rusty student "dig a hole" during a cross-country flight? In this episode, host Carl Valeri is joined by flight instructor, mechanic, and aviation writer Jamie Beckett, who recounts a humbling 1992 New England flight where inadequate planning, misplaced confidence, and misidentified landmarks led to a surprise landing on a U.S. Army helicopter field. Join Carl and Jamie as they break down the critical lessons learned about pre-flight

en

25:33

133. When the Elevator Freezes

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/07/22

In Episode 133 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri welcomes back airline pilot and aviation attorney Chris Pezalla to discuss a harrowing mechanical failure during a tailwheel checkout flight.What started as a routine practice session in a Cessna 140 quickly turned into a critical emergency. During climbout in the traffic pattern, Chris and his instructor discovered that the elevator flight controls were jammed. When forcing the controls freed the elevator with a loud bang, the

en

16:26

132. The Surprise Investigation

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/07/01

Imagine landing your aircraft after a seemingly routine flight, only to find the FAA waiting for you on the ramp. In this special episode of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri sits down with commercial pilot Elliot Mintzer to discuss a harrowing experience from early in his PC-12 career. What started as a standard Part 91 contract flight from the Mid-Atlantic to Texas quickly unraveled into a multi-year legal battle that threatened to end Elliot's aviation career before it truly took

en

25:21

131. Wake Turbulence and an Unusual Attitude Over Maui

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/06/17

In Episode 131 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri sits down with Leslie Cobble, a seasoned flight instructor and owner of flight schools in Arkansas and Hawaii. What was supposed to be a routine engine break-in flight over the beautiful shores of Maui quickly turned into a terrifying fight for control.

en

29:19

130. The Unintended Cessna 152 Camping Trip

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/06/11

In Episode 130 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri sits down with airline pilot and aviation attorney Chris Pezalla to recount a marathon time-building flight that quickly turned into a damp, late-night lesson in aeronautical decision-making.Twenty years ago, a 19-year-old Chris and a friend rented a Cessna 152 to fly from Daytona Beach down to Key West. What started as a straightforward opportunity to build cross-country flight time evolved into a grueling ordeal on the journey

en

27:50

129. Stuck at Full Power

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/05/20

In episode 129 of I Learned About Flying from That, host Carl Valeri sits down with pilot Christy De La Torre and flight instructor Mac Bradley to unpack a routine instructional flight that quickly escalated into a real-world emergency.During a cross-country check ride preparation flight from Wiley Post to Wichita Falls, Texas, Christy and Mac were practicing pattern work when a critical mechanical failure occurred. After a touch-and-go landing, Christy attempted to pull the throttle back, only to

en

28:09

128. Blinded by Oil

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/05/06

In Episode 128 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri welcomes Bill English, a veteran pilot, flight instructor, and former NTSB accident investigator with over 40 years of aviation experience.Bill recounts a harrowing situation while flying a Cessna 172 that had just undergone a major engine overhaul. Setting out on a cross-country training flight with two CFI trainees, the crew noticed what appeared to be water condensation on the windshield shortly after takeoff. The "rain"

en

23:03

127. The Blue Button Lifesaver

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/04/22

In this episode of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri sits down with pilot David Segel to discuss a seemingly routine night flight that quickly turned into a harrowing lesson in survival.While attempting to regain his night currency at Alpine Airpark in Wyoming, David took off expecting a bright, full-moon lit sky to safely illuminate the surrounding 10,000-foot peaks. Instead, moments after leaving the runway, he was met with pitch-black darkness caused by an unexpected lunar

en

22:38

126. Slipping on the Slope of Safety

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/04/08

In this episode of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri sits down with veteran pilot Richard Sheffield to recount a harrowing incident from his early flying days in Texas.What started as a routine solo flight in an Aeronca Champ turned into a desperate struggle for control on a gravel ramp. Richard shares the terrifying moment his engine surged during a solo hand-prop start, sending the aircraft into a clockwise pivot toward a parked Beechcraft Bonanza. Whether you're a taildragger

en

27:41

125. Surviving the "Impossible Turn" at Night

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/03/25

What would you do if you lost your engine in the dark, less than 500 feet off the ground? In Episode 125, Carl Valeri speaks with Shreya Verma, a commercial pilot and CFI with over 2,000 hours of flight time. Originally from Nepal, Shreya shares her journey into aviation and the most intense 40 seconds of her career.While conducting night takeoffs and landings with a student in DeLand, Florida, Shreya experienced a total engine failure at 450 feet. Against the odds, she successfully completed a

en

34:01

124. Is This A Parking Lot Or A Runway?

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/03/11

In Episode 124 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri is joined by Dan George, founder and Chief Instructor at FlightInsight. Dan shares a startling story from his early days as a CFII flying in actual Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). While shooting the RNAV approach into Maryland’s challenging Freeway Airport (W00) with a student, a perfect storm of factors—an offset approach course, older GPS equipment, patchy rain, and a short runway—led to a terrifying visual illusion

en

24:56

123. Engine Failure at FL230

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/02/25

In episode 123 of "I Learned About Flying From That," host Carl Valeri sits down with pilot James McDiarmid to discuss a dream cross-country flight that quickly turned into a terrifying emergency.Cruising at 23,000 feet in his Mooney Acclaim en route from the UK to Italy, James was enjoying a smooth ride—until the engine unexpectedly quit cold over Brussels. Faced with freezing temperatures and a complete loss of power, James was forced to declare a Mayday and initiate a harrowing dead-stick glide

en

22:08

122. Flying High and Landing Low

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/02/12

In this episode of the I Learned About Flying From That podcast, host Carl Valeri welcomes guest Tom Frink to discuss his firsthand experience with an in-flight engine failure that forced him to land on a busy Florida highway.Frink, an experienced flight instructor, recounts the moments leading up to the incident, his training and decision-making process, and the aftermath of the successful emergency landing. He shares his insights on the importance of recurrent training and maintaining

en

52:46

121. Heidi Porch

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2026/01/07

In this episode of the I Learned About Flying From This podcast, host Rob Reider interviews Heidi Porch, a retired airline pilot who survived a harrowing emergency landing in the Pacific Ocean. For a pilot who admitted a lifelong fear of swimming, Heidi details the technical and psychological challenges of ditching a Cessna 182 during a ferry flight from California to New Zealand in 1984.

en

39:01

120. Kevin Winder

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2025/12/24

In this episode, host Rob Reider speaks with Kevin Winder, a veterinarian and pilot from Alberta, Canada, who experienced every pilot's nightmare: a total engine failure during a routine cross-country flight.

en

29:02

Jim Desmond

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2025/12/10

Former Army helicopter pilot and fixed-wing aviator Jim Desmond returns to I Learned About Flying From That to share a harrowing story from March 1973. While attempting a flight from Fort Riley, Kansas, to Colorado Springs, Jim fell victim to a severe case of "get-there-itis."

en

23:14

118. Dave Spreanza

I Learned About Flying From That ·

2025/11/26

Spatial disorientation accounts for less than 10% of fixed wing GA accidents; but among those, the fatality rate is 90% - a horrible statistic that hasn’t declined in the past two decades even with significant advancements in avionics. Host Rob Reider chats with Dave Speranza, who at the time was a non-instrument-rated pilot who inadvertently found himself in IMC. He’ll share how it affected him and how he handled the situation. Sponsored by Avemco

en

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

Sports Cards Nonsense

Sports Cards Nonsense

Acá Entre Nozz

Sonoro | Aká y Allá studiozz

Motorhome Matt

Matt Sims and Keith Gooden

21 Questions by Trivia Tribe

Mike van Acker