Gmanattack
Filing Flight Plan
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- Jul 21, 2012
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Gmanattack
Pretty scary landing today. I spent today practicing short/soft field landings with my instructor in a C172. After we were done he sends me off solo as I still need a few solo hours before I can take the practical.
After being sent off solo, the first landing was fine and then the second landing was fine but after landing I notice the controls are a little sluggish. The plane I was in has a shimmy damper that tends to act up so I brush it off as the damper acting up. I carefully taxi back and don't notice any problems and begin my takeoff roll. Again, no problems. The takeoff is fine and the pattern is fine.
The third land was a near picture perfect landing and as I am about to pat myself on the back, the plane suddenly becomes uncontrollable and starts skidding. It happened fast but I remember just doing what I could to keep it on the runway. I managed to keep it on the runway but there was definitely a moment I was scared it was going to tip or prop strike. But, thank God, none of those happened and I was able to get it stopped on the runway. I very carefully taxied it off the runway and got it parked. Sure enough the left main tire was pretty underflated.
Shook me up pretty bad but I guess it was a great landing as I walked away and the plane was usable again.
Even though it was terrifying, I learned some good lessons:
1. Trust your instincts. After the second landing I knew something wasn't quite right but I talked myself into believing it was.
2. You never know when something is going to go wrong. This happened just after a near picture perfect landing. You think you're out of the woods after the wheels touch but you never know.
3. I gained some confidence that I can handle a tough situation. You always wonder how you'll deal when something goes wrong but you never know until you experience it. My instructor said that it wasn't purely luck that kept me from going off the runway or tipping or prop strike--I did something right in my reactions in getting the plane stopped.
Even though these are some great lessons, it still scared the shoot out of me.
After being sent off solo, the first landing was fine and then the second landing was fine but after landing I notice the controls are a little sluggish. The plane I was in has a shimmy damper that tends to act up so I brush it off as the damper acting up. I carefully taxi back and don't notice any problems and begin my takeoff roll. Again, no problems. The takeoff is fine and the pattern is fine.
The third land was a near picture perfect landing and as I am about to pat myself on the back, the plane suddenly becomes uncontrollable and starts skidding. It happened fast but I remember just doing what I could to keep it on the runway. I managed to keep it on the runway but there was definitely a moment I was scared it was going to tip or prop strike. But, thank God, none of those happened and I was able to get it stopped on the runway. I very carefully taxied it off the runway and got it parked. Sure enough the left main tire was pretty underflated.
Shook me up pretty bad but I guess it was a great landing as I walked away and the plane was usable again.
Even though it was terrifying, I learned some good lessons:
1. Trust your instincts. After the second landing I knew something wasn't quite right but I talked myself into believing it was.
2. You never know when something is going to go wrong. This happened just after a near picture perfect landing. You think you're out of the woods after the wheels touch but you never know.
3. I gained some confidence that I can handle a tough situation. You always wonder how you'll deal when something goes wrong but you never know until you experience it. My instructor said that it wasn't purely luck that kept me from going off the runway or tipping or prop strike--I did something right in my reactions in getting the plane stopped.
Even though these are some great lessons, it still scared the shoot out of me.
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