AOPA Never Again

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.

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.

When you’re flying IFR, communication isn’t just important—it’s everything. But what happens when that lifeline suddenly goes quiet?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this episode of “Never Again”, a distraction and get-there-itis combine to create a near-miss for a Skyhawk pilot under pressure.

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.

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.

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 [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

Apologies for the long delay, but we are back up and running. Podcasts will be released weekly until we are back up to date. For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

If lights, landmarks, and even buildings disappear and then reappear, you might be scud running. (By Ben Moses) For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

The trials, tribulations, and dangers of owning a warbird. (By Robert Nielsen)

Hard decisions must be made when it comes to contradicting your instructor. Who's really in charge? (By Greg Faris) For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

The dangers and flying in and around smoke. (By Laurel Johnson) For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

A Grumman pilot neglects a checklist item and nearly pays a heavy price. By Bob Lamberton.

A student pilot learns whose job it is to preflight the airplane. (By William Satterburg) For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

An overheated iPad, an unfamiliar aircraft, a missed checklist item, and convective weather at the destination airport. Sounds like a chain of events. Find out how quick decision making saved the day--but not the stomach contents--of a King Air full of nervous fliers. By Chris Powers. For questions or comments about this podcast, email [email protected] Send us your Never Again and we may publish it in an issue of AOPA Pilot and share it on this podcast. Email [email protected].

A pilot directly experiences wingtip vortices, and they're frightening. Find out what happens. (By Jim Gardner)

If you decide to fly IFR, be sure you'll fully briefed, including terminal procedures. One pilot learned this in a rather startling way. (By Rod Callison)

Unforecast IMC: It can happen at any time and come from anywhere--like over the ridge of that mountain we're rapidly approaching. What would you do? (By Larry Landau)

Three missed approaches. And where are we? See if you can be the first to spot the ground. (By David Wiseman) Want to share your Never Again story with your fellow pilots? Email [email protected] and we may publish it in AOPA Pilot magazine and record it for this podcast.

Hawaii may be a paradise, but not for a VFR pilot flying into IMC. Find out what happens. (By Brian Delamer) Want to share your Never Again story with your fellow pilots? Email [email protected] and we may publish it in AOPA Pilot magazine and record it for this podcast.

There's lots of stories in aviation about not having enough fuel. But when do you have too much? (By Carmine Mowbray) Want to share your Never Again story with your fellow pilots? Email [email protected] and we may publish it in AOPA Pilot magazine and record it for this podcast.

Don't land on taxiways. Just don't. Find out what led a pilot to do just that. (By Doug Magill) Got a Never Again scenario you'd like to share with others? Email [email protected] and we may publish your story in AOPA Pilot magazine and record it on this podcast.

The iPad has become an invaluable tool until it breaks loose from its mount and jams the controls. Tighten down that clamp and ride along. (By Tom Fournier) Got a Never Again scenario you'd like to share with others? Email [email protected] and we may publish your story in AOPA Pilot magazine and record it on this podcast.

Risk--what is it, and how do you mitigate it, especially with regards to the weather? And how much risk is too much? Find out what happens when risk is mismanaged. (By Preston Harrison) Got a Never Again scenario you'd like to share with others? Email [email protected] and we may publish your story in AOPA Pilot magazine and record it on this podcast.

Nothing like a fire to liven up a phase check. Check that the fire extinguisher has a full charge. (By James Nova) Do you have a Never Again you'd like to share with your fellow pilots? Email [email protected] and we may publish your story in AOPA Pilot magazine (and turn it into a Never Again podcast!)

Do you know how to disconnect your autopilot and do you have a backup plan for when the primary plan doesn't work? Find how many tries it might take. (By John Jacobi) Do you have your own Never Again story to share with other pilots? Email [email protected] and we may use your story in this podcast and in AOPA Pilot magazine.

Ever wonder what it's like to fly directly into a thunderstorm? Fly along with someone who's been there. By Steve Weaver Got a Never Again to share with your fellow pilots? Email [email protected] and we may publish it in AOPA Pilot magazine and record it for our podcast.

Does a partial engine failure constitute an emergency? Find out one pilot's opinion. By Dr. Amanda M. Stahl. Got a Never Again of your own to share? Email [email protected] and we may publish yours in AOPA Pilot magazine.

Birds hit the side of the airplane and we fall out of a tree. We'll enjoy a Sully moment of our own. (By Rodney Whipple) Got a Never Again of your own to share? Email [email protected] and we may publish yours in AOPA Pilot magazine.

A Coast Guard air crew member witnesses first hand the necessity of approaching backcountry flights with rescue and survivability in mind. (By Thomas W. Gross) Got a Never Again of your own to share? Email [email protected] and we may publish yours in AOPA Pilot magazine.

In this episode, sure you can avoid thunderstorms, but can you avoid the turbulence associated with them? Strap in tight--and I mean real tight. By Christopher Lyon. Got a Never Again you'd like to share? Send it to [email protected] ande we may choose your story to appear in the magazine and on this podcast.

Throwing your son out the door of your Citabria? Pack that parachute and strap in. By Dominick Trivisanno. Do you have a Never Again story to share? Email [email protected] and we may publish your story and feature it on the Never Again podcast.