AOPA'S AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE RELEASES NEW REAL PILOT STORY

Real Pilot Story: Cold Weather Catastrophe, private pilot John Berman recalls a distressing night flight that was the last leg in a long cross-country flight from Olathe, Kansas, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, during the winter of 2018.

“In this real pilot story, John details the unfortunate choices he made that night as a result of prolonged exposure to extreme cold temperatures—a factor that would have a significant impact on the flight’s outcome,” said AOPA Air Safety Institute Senior Director Paul Deres.

“We explore the considerable mental and physical influence the cold weather had on overall decision making and reasoning that combined with misguided and self-imposed constraints led John to depart that night,” Deres concluded.

ASI’s Real Pilot Story series allows pilots to share their encounter with a dilemma so others can benefit—while comfortable on the ground—from lessons learned the hard way in flight.

View the real pilot story.