Dirtybirdg79 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Hey guys, Just thought I'd share what was a very scary experience today for me in the hopes that others will think twice in a similar situation. Growing up as a kid in rural Minnesota USA, I envied an older guy I knew who had something similar to a quicksilver fixed wing ultralight airplane. One day I heard he died when he crashed it into powerlines. Rumor was that he was disoriented in fog. It blew my mind that fog could take a life. Now that I've taken private pilot course and have been flying ppg, I understand and thought I realized the dangers and I pride myself on flying safely and in good conditions. This morning though, I made a mistake and launched from a local sports complex with what I thought to be a thin layer of light fog. Soon as I left the ground I knew I was in trouble. My flight path took me over a road and several 100 ft light poles which are scattered about the complex. I went full throttle to get above the fog quickly and to avoid any powerlines, trees, buildings etc. When I finally got above the fog/ clouds, I realized I was in serious trouble. Long story short, I wasnt able to see anything except clouds. Luckily I had my phone and my garmin gps to get me back over my site, but had to fly for 30 min till a slight break in the clous revealed a light pole from my field. I flew in circles for several minutes trying to mentally map out where I felt the power lines and other light poles were. Finally, I got myself lined up into the wind, downwind from the light pole I saw and decended into the now dense fog and said a prayer. About 50 ft from the ground, I finally broke through and was a little high, but was clear of all objects and was finally able to release my harness from the clutches of my butt cheeks! Anyway, I learned a great lesson and am able to share it with others. I will never fly in fog like this again Goldy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin (Simon W) Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Massive thanks for sharing! Glad it ended well though Stick it in the log book and stay happy. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cas_whitmore Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Lucky man . Could of ended so different ' glad you could post a happy ending . cas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi k Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Its better to be on the ground wishing you were flying than to be flying wishing you were on the ground, a very wise old owl told me that and it's true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nforster Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 That's why we have VFR minimum meteorological conditions, to fly outside of those is frankly stupid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtybirdg79 Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 Thanks guys. Yes, it was stupid. I tend to fly only in good conditions. I left home and there was only slight fog over the ground. The field I flew from today is a half hour south and I honestly figured it was just a light fog that would burn off almost immediately after the sun came up as I've flown in many times before. What surprised me was just how badly I misjudged it this time. Wasnt concerned about it in the least to be perfectly honest. And I've had great weather for my area, being able to get up a couple hrs each day this week, so it wasnt me in a rush for a flying fix. I guess complacency reared it's ugly head for me this time. Lesson learned. Goldy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman2 Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 (edited) 20 hours ago, Dirtybirdg79 said: Hey guys, Just thought I'd share ..... I made a mistake .... I realized I was in serious trouble.... 50 ft from the ground, I finally broke through .... I learned a great lesson...... I will never fly in fog like this again Goldy Goldy, you just followed an aviation tradition that has saved countless lives, rivers of tears and hills of bent metal. We are curious being who, by and large, enjoy taking risks. That's the way of the world, but the unfamiliar can lure us places we have no business visiting. You kept thinking and got away with it - well done, and thanks... "If I don't do this, how much will it matter next week?" - V - "If I do this and it goes wrong, how much will it matter next week" Edited August 18, 2016 by norman2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Goldy, thanks for posting that, we all need reminders now and again, particularly as the years tick on. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtybirdg79 Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 Thanks for the great advice and words of wisdom everyone. I know better than this, but figured it was a good example of how easy it is to let the passion for our sport cloud our judgement, despite all the literature in the world repeatedly telling us how dangerous certain situations can be. If I were to be reading an article about a paramotor pilot dying from doing exactly what I did yesterday, I'd probably ask myself how was he so careless. Crazy. It didn't feel careless to me in the moment. Goldy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin (Simon W) Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 7 hours ago, norman2 said: Goldy, you just followed an aviation tradition that has saved countless lives, rivers of tears and hills of bent metal. We are curious being who, by and large, enjoy taking risks. That's the way of the world, but the unfamiliar can lure us places we have no business visiting. You kept thinking and got away with it - well done, and thanks... "If I don't do this, how much will it matter next week?" - V - "If I do this and it goes wrong, how much will it matter next week" He has returned !! @norman2 Great to have you back with your words of wisdom SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickTurner Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Hi fellas, My experience of fog may also help others stay safer. Launching one early morning from my regular field, the sky was clear and blue. I flew around 10 miles away from the field on a planned out and return. When I turned I was greeted by a dense cover of fog which had apparently rolled in and followed me. I was surprised to say the least, and at this point made the wrong decision. Below me, at the turn, was a large flat open field which I gad flown from twice before, I should have landed and got my phone out. Instead, I assumed that as the fog had come in quickly, it would clear quickly, and I opened the throttle to get over the fog, and proceeded back the way I had come. I too had my Garmin with me and brought up my home field. Needless to say, the fog did not clear, and after 45 minutes, with the GPS telling me I was over my field I could see nothing of the ground. Putting my faith in the God Garmin, my own knowledge of the surroundings, and watching my Vario, I visualized an approach which I hoped gave me the best chance of meeting the ground in a controlled fashion. At 30 feet I crossed the field boundary insight of Terra Ferma. I landed on my knees and thanked my lucky stars. I will never repeat that mistake. Stay safe guys, Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtybirdg79 Posted September 11, 2016 Author Share Posted September 11, 2016 Thanks Mick, Funny, but I said some thank yous to God when I was safely on the ground as well. Goldy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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