I Learned About Flying From That
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- 140
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- 4 Nov 2026
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Tune in for the rest of the story—with exclusive interviews with pilots who have shared their emergencies, crises, and mistakes over 950-plus installments of Flying's iconic series, "I Learned About Flying From That." Host Carl Valeri relates the tale as told by the author, then catches up with that pilot to ask the questions we know have been on your mind.
Episodios 140
139. When the Magenta Line Disappears
What happens when your avionics panel suddenly doesn’t believe your destination exists In Episode 139 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri sits down with flight instructor and CSIP TJ Shembekar …
Notas del episodio
What happens when your avionics panel suddenly doesn’t believe your destination exists
In Episode 139 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri sits down with flight instructor and CSIP TJ Shembekar to discuss an unforgettable flight heading north toward Churchill, Canada. While descending through solid IMC into Winnipeg to clear customs, TJ encountered an unexpected crisis: although his iPad and ForeFlight subscriptions were fully current, the aircraft’s onboard Garmin database had not been updated for Canadian airspace
Without warning, the magenta line vanished. The GPS didn’t recognize Winnipeg Airport, forcing TJ to fall back on skills many modern glass-cockpit pilots rarely practice: tuning raw-data VORs, centering green needles, and hand-flying an ILS approach down to minimums. To make matters worse, as they neared the runway, the panel triggered a startling alert—"TERRAIN! PULL UP!"—because the system believed the aircraft was descending into open terrain rather than an active runway
In this episode, TJ unpacks:
The critical difference between having current charts on an EFB and maintaining current aircraft panel databases.
Overcoming automation dependency and managing the cognitive friction of switching back to conventional navigation under pressure.
Nuances of Garmin avionics, including CDI course selection, synthetic vision terrain alerts, and advisory glidepaths (+V).
Why every instrument pilot should incorporate raw-data, green-needle tracking and non-precision VOR work into recurrent training and IPCs.
Sponsored by AVEMCO Insurance. Have an aviation story or lesson of your own to share? Contact Carl at [email protected].
138. Vacuum Down, Backup On
In Episode 138 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri is joined by flight instructor Gary Palmer to share a harrowing story of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flying. While en route with his wife …
Notas del episodio
In Episode 138 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri is joined by flight instructor Gary Palmer to share a harrowing story of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flying. While en route with his wife as a passenger, Gary experienced a vacuum system failure in solid cloud cover. As his primary attitude indicator failed and spatial disorientation set in, Gary had to transition to backup equipment, rely on his training, and communicate directly with Air Traffic Control (ATC) to safely navigate out of a life-threatening situation. This episode breaks down crucial lessons on instrument scan, emergency decision-making, passenger safety, and knowing when to ask ATC for help.
137. Electrical Failure Above the Clouds
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 electrical power or navigation equipment
Faced with a total electrical failure, degraded weather conditions below, and a thick icing environment during descent, Eric shares the crucial decision-making process, teamwork, and flight instructor instincts that allowed them to manage multiple compounding emergencies and land safely.
136. Engine Failure in the Pattern
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 vital lessons on airmanship, resource management, and keeping your cool when everything goes wrong without warning.
135. Should We Cross?
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 filing an Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS/NASA) report is crucial for every pilot.
Sponsored by Avemco Insurance.
134. Right Airplane, Wrong Airport
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 briefing, overcoming complacency, and why owned mistakes make everyone a safer pilot.
133. When the Elevator Freezes
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 aircraft pitched nose-down toward traffic on a nearby highway—only for the elevator to jam again.
132. The Surprise Investigation
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 off.
131. Wake Turbulence and an Unusual Attitude Over Maui
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 …
Notas del episodio
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.
130. The Unintended Cessna 152 Camping Trip
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 home.
129. Stuck at Full Power
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 discover the throttle cable had completely severed—leaving their aircraft's engine stuck operating at full power.
128. Blinded by Oil
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 …
Notas del episodio
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" quickly worsened, turning into a brown film that completely obscured the front windshield. They soon realized a plug in the engine's hollow crankshaft had blown out, spraying hot oil all over the aircraft's fuselage.
Tune in to hear the full breakdown of the emergency, plus vital lessons learned.
127. The Blue Button Lifesaver
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 eclipse. As severe spatial disorientation set in and his autopilot began blaring "Terrain! Pull Up!" warnings, David had to fight his own senses and rely on a critical piece of technology—the Garmin autopilot's "blue button"—to navigate his way out of danger.
Owner: www.avemco.com/8705-owner
Non-Owner: www.avemco.com/8705-nonowner126. Slipping on the Slope of Safety
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 enthusiast or a student pilot, Richard’s story is a powerful reminder that safety often comes down to the simplest tools and the humblest preparations.
125. Surviving the "Impossible Turn" at Night
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 180-to-200-degree turn to land safely back on the runway. Tune in to hear her step-by-step breakdown of the emergency and the crucial lessons every pilot should apply to their own training.
124. Is This A Parking Lot Or A Runway?
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 right at the Minimum Descent Altitude.
123. Engine Failure at FL230
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 toward an unfamiliar runway, with his wife by his side and the odds stacked against them.
Will they make it to the ground safely? And what invisible, easily overlooked threat caused a perfectly well-maintained engine to suddenly fail at flight level 230? Tune in to hear the gripping conclusion to James’s mid-air crisis and discover the critical lesson every high-altitude piston pilot needs to hear.
122. Flying High and Landing Low
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 …
Notas del episodio
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 situational awareness, especially in general aviation. This episode is packed with valuable lessons for pilots of all experience levels and highlights the resilience and preparedness necessary for safe flying.
121. Heidi Porch
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 …
Notas del episodio
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.
120. Kevin Winder
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.
Jim Desmond
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 …
Notas del episodio
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."
118. Dave Spreanza
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 …
Notas del episodio
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
117. Kevin Reick
A “time-saver” offered by ATC might not have been a good idea for the pilot and his wife en route to the Bahamas, putting them farther over water than they’d like and into weather they didn’t expect …
Notas del episodio
A “time-saver” offered by ATC might not have been a good idea for the pilot and his wife en route to the Bahamas, putting them farther over water than they’d like and into weather they didn’t expect. Instrument-rated private pilot Kevin Reick shares that story with host, Rob Reider, and another from his instrument instruction when the cockpit got as dark as the night sky they were flying in.
Sponsored by Avemco
116. J.J. Madison
If you’ve ever “busted an altitude, inadvertently gone into a restricted area or other controlled airspace or something else that could get you in trouble with the FAA, they’ve offered an “out.” It’s the FAA’s …
Notas del episodio
If you’ve ever “busted an altitude, inadvertently gone into a restricted area or other controlled airspace or something else that could get you in trouble with the FAA, they’ve offered an “out.” It’s the FAA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System and it could save you some heartburn. It’s more commonly known as the NASA report - if you’re not familiar with it, this episode of ILAFFT will be an eye-opener.
Sponsored by Avemco
115. When to Trust Your Feelings
As pilots, we’re taught to trust our instruments - trusting our feelings can lead to problems. But in an airplane you know very well, if there’s a strange sound or vibration, trusting your feelings might be the …
Notas del episodio
As pilots, we’re taught to trust our instruments - trusting our feelings can lead to problems. But in an airplane you know very well, if there’s a strange sound or vibration, trusting your feelings might be the right thing to do. One pilot, experiencing this situation, convinced an A&P mechanic to double check a recently completed repair. What he found was a botched job that could have resulted in a catastrophic situation.
Sponsored by Avemco Insurance
114. ATC: service provider or life-saver
VFR Traffic Advisories, also known as “flight following,” is a service that is provided by ATC, workload permitting. But it can also be a life saver. In today’s episode, we’ll hear how controllers assisted a …
Notas del episodio
VFR Traffic Advisories, also known as “flight following,” is a service that is provided by ATC, workload permitting. But it can also be a life saver. In today’s episode, we’ll hear how controllers assisted a pilot who needed help when his engine started running very roughly and he began to lose altitude over terrain that was not at all conducive for a forced landing. The pilot was grateful for the help controllers provided.
Sponsored by Avemco Insurance
113. RODE Hard and Put Away Wet
Join Rob Reider on episode 113 of Flying Magazine's I Learned About Flying from That podcast as we meet a pilot who, fresh off earning his commercial certificate, accepted his very first flight for hire …
Notas del episodio
Join Rob Reider on episode 113 of Flying Magazine's I Learned About Flying from That podcast as we meet a pilot who, fresh off earning his commercial certificate, accepted his very first flight for hire: ferrying an early, "very ragged" Cessna 150 from Connecticut to Florida. What seemed like a straightforward job quickly devolved into a tale of significant lapses in aeronautical decision-making. Bob Kamm shares just how ragged the plane was, what he had to overcome to make the flight, and what he learned about ADM!
112. Right Pavement, Wrong Direction
Join host Rob Reider for episode 112 of I Learned About Flying From That with John Price, who, nearly 40 years ago, embarked on his first solo flight into Class C airspace as a student pilot. This cross-country …
Notas del episodio
Join host Rob Reider for episode 112 of I Learned About Flying From That with John Price, who, nearly 40 years ago, embarked on his first solo flight into Class C airspace as a student pilot. This cross-country journey became an indelible experience, despite challenging conditions like clouds, an unfamiliar airport, and situational confusion. Though family finances prevented John from earning his private pilot's license, his story is packed with invaluable 'back to the basics' lessons for all aviators. Discover how a moment of "right pavement, wrong direction" shaped his understanding of flight, proving that some lessons are learned best through experience.
This episode is brought to you by Avemco Insurance.
111. The Gusty Bow and the Prop Strike
Join host Rob Reider in Episode 111 of I Learned About Flying From That, featuring acclaimed air show pilot Anna Serbinenko, the "sky dancer". Anna recounts a harrowing incident during her Canadian Arctic …
Notas del episodio
Join host Rob Reider in Episode 111 of I Learned About Flying From That, featuring acclaimed air show pilot Anna Serbinenko, the "sky dancer". Anna recounts a harrowing incident during her Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. After a successful performance, her routine post-landing 360-degree bow with air show smoke turned into an "oh sh*t moment" due to gusty, shifting winds. Anna shares the critical lessons learned, including the importance of never relaxing too soon and the need for counterintuitive control inputs in unexpected situations.
This episode is sponsored by Avemco Insurance.
110. Against the Odds: A VFR Flight Story
Host Rob Reider interviews Pete Egan from Ireland about a harrowing flight. Pete was in the backseat of a plane not certified for instrument flight, scud running along the River Shannon from an airport near …
Notas del episodio
Host Rob Reider interviews Pete Egan from Ireland about a harrowing flight. Pete was in the backseat of a plane not certified for instrument flight, scud running along the River Shannon from an airport near Dublin to Limerick. Despite a weather briefing recommending against VFR flight and the departing airport reporting less than VFR minimums, they took off. What they almost encountered could have cost them their lives. Discover how this incident taught Pete crucial lessons about aeronautical decision-making and the dangers of "get there-itis".
This episode is sponsored by Avemco Aviation Insurance.
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