134. Right Airplane, Wrong Airport

134. Right Airplane, Wrong Airport

August 12, 2026 · 20 min

About this episode

The episode discusses a flight instructor's experience with a student that led to an unexpected landing due to planning errors.

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.

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