The Climbing Perils of a Solo Pilot's Night Flight: A True Story

As a seasoned helicopter pilot, I can attest to the many challenges faced during a night flight. In this article, I share a personal experience of the scariest moment during my solo night flight experience in 1967.

Introduction to the Experience

The summer of 1967, I was a freshly minted Private Pilot with under 50 hours of flying experience. My flight experience was limited, but I was eager to showcase my skills. The aircraft used for my flight was a Piper Cherokee Six, the predecessor of the Piper Saratoga, which would later be involved in a tragic accident involving John F Kennedy Jr.

Initial Miscalculations

The flight commenced on November 10, 1967. My mission was to fly four friends from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to Women’s College in Greensboro to visit their girlfriends. However, during the late afternoon, I forgot to consider that Daylight Savings Time had ended.

To my horror, I noticed the sun setting while flying over the sky. Remembering that I had never flown at night, I initially decided to push on into the night. This was my first mistake.

The Night Flight Begins

With the friends now resisting requests to overnight in Greensboro, we managed to get to the airport just as dusk fell. Without conducting a pre-flight check, I roared down the taxiway at take-off speed to save time. The air traffic controller had a hint of concern about my inexperience, but I was determined to make it back to Chapel Hill.

Technical Miscalculations and Fuel Management

I dead-reeled back to Chapel Hill using estimated wind speed and course to minimize time. Additionally, I chose to fly as low as 500 feet to save fuel, rather than use radio navigation aids, which would have taken more time. However, Chapel Hill had no lighting and no plane illumination system, adding another layer of difficulty to my night flight.

As the night advanced, and towns below lit up in the distance, I realized we were low on fuel. The plane had four fuel tanks, of which only two were partially filled. My heart raced in panic as I struggled to keep my cool and calculate our position. It was a critical second in the journey.

Bracing for Impact

I decided on a backup plan to land on the interstate or declare an emergency at Raleigh Durham Airport, which was a large “airline airport” to the east. My friends and I were prepared for the crash landing, but little did I know that a sudden realization would save us.

During the flight, one of my passengers mentioned that we were over Hillsborough, and it was indeed where he had kissed his first girlfriend. This diverted me from my panic and guided me to the Raleigh Durham Airport, where a successful landing was made.

Conclusion and Reflection

The incident taught me valuable lessons about night flight preparation and fuel management. Despite the panic, the experience was not as harrowing as it could have been, as the safety of my passengers was always at the forefront of my mind. The friends I flew with even found the incident to be more of an adventure than a fear-inducing event.

In retrospect, this trip might have led to a catastrophe if not for the combined efforts of swift decision-making and a fortunate detour. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough pre-flight planning, especially during challenging night conditions.