AOPA Never Again

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.