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AOPA Never Again

AOPA

AOPA presents the "Never Again" series in AOPA Pilot magazine and online to allow pilots to learn from the experiences of others.

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23 episodes
monthly
Avg 8 min
English

Episodes 23

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Sunday · 12 min
After an Incident (November 2026)
On this episode of “Never Again,” a sudden loss of power at 17,000 feet leaves one pilot scrambling to find a place to land. When the turbocharger fails on his Piper Malibu Mirage, Lawrence Searcy relies on his training, declares an emergency, and diverts to the nearest suitable airport. But the emergency doesn't end when the wheels touch down.
October 1 · 8 min
Mooney on a Bumpy Grass Field (October 2026)
On this episode of “Never Again,” a Mooney pilot thinks he’s found a bargain on fuel—but the short grass runway, summer heat and trees ahead quickly turn a $20 savings into a terrifying takeoff.
September 1 · 7 min
To Divert or Not to Divert (September 2026)
On this episode of “Never Again,” a routine IFR flight turns into a fight against worsening weather when a Cessna 210 pilot encounters heavy snow, a 30-knot crosswind, accumulating ice, and an engine problem on approach. With visibility down to less than a quarter mile and the runway disappearing beneath fresh snow, he must decide whether to divert—or commit to the landing.
August 4 · 7 min
Got gas? (August 2026)
On this episode of “Never Again,” a simple dinner date turns into an emergency when a Mooney pilot discovers his fuel gauges have been lying to him. With the engine quitting, an unexpected landing at a military base, and a less-than-pleased commanding officer waiting on the ground, one overlooked step during preflight nearly has disastrous consequences.
June 30 · 8 min
The Muscle Memory Trap (July 2026)
In this episode of “Never Again,” transitioning between two twin-engine airplanes turns a routine touch-and-go into a runway accident. The flap lever in one cockpit occupies the exact same spot as the landing gear lever in another—and years of muscle memory prove stronger than a moment's intention.
June 2 · 7 min
Near-Death Grip (June 2026)
In this episode of “Never Again,” a routine ferry flight turns into a white-knuckle battle to outclimb the trees when a newly checked-out Piper Arrow pilot finds himself on departure from a short, challenging runway. Trapped in the right seat, a young pilot watches helplessly as the aircraft mushes toward rising terrain and discovers that experience, ratings, and age don't always tell the whole story.
May 1 · 6 min
Approaching On Fumes (May 2026)
In this episode of "Never Again," a routine hop turns into a razor-thin margin for error. When unforecast fog rolls in and both departure and destination go below minimums, a young fighter pilot finds himself trapped between worsening weather and dwindling fuel. With each missed approach, the stakes climb higher—until there’s only one option left.
April 1 · 8 min
Unavoidable Carb Ice (April 2026)
In this episode of “Never Again,” a weekend cross-country in a modified Cessna 172 turns into a fight to keep the engine alive. When the rough-running engine begins to lose power during descent, a Navy pilot and his passengers cycle through every possible fix—mixture, mags, fuel, prop—while racing toward a distant runway.
March 2 · 7 min
Expect The Unexpected (March 2026)
When you’re flying IFR, communication isn’t just important—it’s everything. But what happens when that lifeline suddenly goes quiet?
February 1 · 8 min
Just Say No (Go) (February 2026)
Dark clouds. A loaded helicopter. And a captain determined to go—no matter the cost. In this episode of “Never Again”, a hop across New York City turns into a white-knuckle fight against weather, pressure, and cockpit authority. As thunderstorms close in and visibility drops below legal minimums, a copilot is forced to choose between speaking up—or staying silent.
January 1 · 7 min
Owning Up to Inadvertent IMC Entry (January 2026)
In this episode of “Never Again,” a sunny VFR flight in a Cessna 172 slowly unravels as weather closes in over Montana’s empty quarter. With clouds above and below, no radio contact, and rising terrain ahead, a private pilot finds himself unintentionally in IMC and out of options.
Dec 1, 2025 · 13 min
Running Out of Options (December 2025)
In this episode of “Never Again,” a young instrument-rated pilot sets out for a cozy Thanksgiving with family only to find himself racing a fast-moving winter system across the Midwest. But when one airport after another unexpectedly closes in blowing snow, his carefully crafted plans evaporate. With fuel dwindling, visibility collapsing, and the squall line tightening around him, he’s forced to improvise a plan B… then C… then D… until he’s running out of sky, daylight, and options.
Nov 1, 2025 · 10 min
No Such Thing As A Little Ice (November 2025)
In this episode of “Never Again”, a regional airline captain takes off from Cordova, Alaska, expecting just another routine hop in his Beechcraft 1900. But as the aircraft climbs into the clouds, ice begins to build—and keeps building. With performance fading, visibility gone, and mountains rising below, the crew fights to keep the airplane flying long enough to break through the top of the storm.
Oct 1, 2025 · 7 min
Rushing To Get Airborne (October 2025)
In this episode of “Never Again,” a Cessna test pilot jumps at the chance to fly the very first production model of a brand-new twin. But in his rush to get airborne, he skips the weather briefing—and soon finds himself facing both a fast-moving line of thunderstorms and a landing gear that refuses to extend.
Sep 1, 2025 · 11 min
Letting Go to Live (September 2025)
In this episode of “Never Again,” a student glider pilot faces her first solo in the unpredictable winds of Colorado’s Front Range. What began as a calm winter morning quickly spiraled into a test of skill, instinct, and resilience.
Aug 1, 2025 · 8 min
Respect Every Flight (August 2025)
In this episode of “Never Again”, a pilot recounts a humbling experience that highlights the dangers of complacency in aviation — even on a short, familiar flight.
Jul 1, 2025 · 7 min
The Reset Button (July 2025)
In this episode of “Never Again”, a distraction and get-there-itis combine to create a near-miss for a Skyhawk pilot under pressure.
Jun 3, 2025 · 12 min
Dual Turbo Failure (June 2025)
In this episode of “Never Again,” a routine flight from Montana to Washington turns treacherous when a pilot experiences a sudden engine failure after encountering severe icing conditions.
May 6, 2025 · 6 min
Takeoffs are Optional (May 2025)
In this episode of "Never Again", pilot James Ott recounts a harrowing near-disaster during a short takeoff from a challenging airstrip. With just 120 hours of flying experience, Ott experiences a critical engine failure at 60 feet of altitude due to an improperly set fuel selector.
Apr 29, 2025 · 8 min
Spring Break to Remember (April 2025)
In this "Never Again" episode, a 21-year-old instrument rated multi-engine commercial pilot shares his harrowing experience of a sudden engine failure during a spring break trip from Kansas to Florida in a Cessna 182. Just three miles from his destination, the engine catastrophically failed, forcing him to execute an emergency landing at Panama City Airport (ECP). For questions or comments about this podcast, email podcasts@aopa.org Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email pilot@aopa.org.

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