118. Dave Spreanza
From I Learned About Flying From That by Flying Magazine
November 26, 2025 · 23 min
About this episode
Rob Reider interviews Dave Speranza about his experience with spatial disorientation as a non-instrument-rated pilot in IMC.
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
People in this episode
Host: Rob Reider
Guest: Dave Speranza
Topics covered
- spatial disorientation
- general aviation
- pilot safety
- instrument meteorological conditions
- aviation accidents
Keywords
- spatial disorientation
- GA accidents
- aviation safety
- IMC
- pilot experience
Sponsors
Avemco
More episodes of I Learned About Flying From That
- 130. The Unintended Cessna 152 Camping Trip · June 11, 2026 · 29 min
- 129. Stuck at Full Power · May 20, 2026 · 28 min
- 128. Blinded by Oil · May 6, 2026 · 28 min
- 127. The Blue Button Lifesaver · April 22, 2026 · 23 min
- 126. Slipping on the Slope of Safety · April 8, 2026 · 23 min
- 125. Surviving the "Impossible Turn" at Night · March 25, 2026 · 28 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the I Learned About Flying From That podcast page.