Student Pilot CRASHES In River!

A solo student pilot lost his engine and tried to land in a river instead of on the runway because of something the tower controller did without even realizing it.
Hindsight is always 20/20 and if the tower controller had known the student was going to lose the engine he might have done things a little differently.
Student Pilot Solo Flight Nightmare!
• Student Pilot's Flight...
Student Pilot STUCK At Max Power - No Way To Land!
• Student Pilot Stuck At...
#studentpilot #aviation #pilot
This channel is for entertainment purposes only and represents solely my opinion and not the opinion, views, or position of anyone else.

[@pilot-debrief]

I made a mistake and I’d like to thank my loyal viewers for pointing it out. Student pilots cannot be given a LAHSO clearance. The pilot debrief is all about learning from our mistakes and doing better next time…and that’s what I intend to do. Thanks again!

[@denverbraughler3948]

When you suggested a LAHSO, I immediately downvoted your video.

[@pilot-debrief]

Thanks, Denver! I appreciate the feedback. It's been 20+ years since I've been a student pilot and unfortunately I've forgotten a few little things like this over the years!

[@ryangee7354]

I see a lot of posts that say LAHSO is not allowed for student pilots…. but from what I can tell, the FAA’s position is it’s “not recommended.”

[@AnonyMous-jf4lc]

Right from the regs: " Student pilots or pilots not familiar with LAHSO should not participate in the program." It doesn't say it is not allowed, it is discouraged.

[@denverbraughler3948]

@@ryangee7354: “When pilot identifies themselves as a solo student pilot, that pilot must not be issued a LAHSO clearance.” The key point is that the student pilot identified himself as a student pilot. Secondly, flight schools probably always forbid students to accept any landing clearance which precludes going around. The chance of a bounce exists.

[@KittyClaudia]

The fact that the student pilot said: "Yeah.... I´m not gonna make it" in a tone like he would cancel a meeting with his friends shows how damn calm he stayed in this emergency. Great Job! 🙌

[@solefinder3708]

Yes, I to noticed how calm they were.

[@ronnie_5150]

It almost sounded like he chuckled a bit.

[@grayvidz238]

I'm a CFI who worked for the flight school this happened at. I actually met this student firsthand - he's working on his CPL now! A couple points of clarification. Great breakdown! 1. A student cannot accept a Land and Hold Short (LAHSO) clearance. 2. The cause was determined to be fuel starvation. The student unfortunately lost track of fuel burn and forgot to switch tanks per the NTSB report. 3. SAV is well known for its high density of Gulfstream jets in and out due to Gulfstream HQ and service centers being located there. It is a fairly common occurrence to fly figure 8 patterns and even switch to a different runway due to consistent inbound jet traffic. A great reminder to all to watch your fuel!

[@pilot-debrief]

Thanks for sharing! Yep, I clarified the LAHSO stuff in my pinned comment. Ran out of fuel?!? Yikes! That sucks! Ya, I've flown into Savannah several times when I was flying Hornets out of Beaufort and later when I flew a Citation XL we had a few clients go in and out of there. Appreciate your input!

[@kevin1873]

This is unfortunate and completely avoidable. A simple GUMPS check even in a single engine fixed gear aircraft is something that was burnt into my brain even when I got my PPL in a Piper Tomahawk. The first check of GUMPS is, of course, GAS. You make sure the tank with the most fuel is used for landing. Makes you wonder was there a lapse in training or was this student at the time not practicing simple learning procedures before landing. Because you don't want to let the plane get ahead of you, it's important to learn and practice these procedures. Or am I missing something here?

[@grayvidz238]

@@kevin1873 It's easy to armchair quarterback. This was a student pilot with 20 hours. I agree, this was a simple catch. As a CFI, you see some interesting things and habits in very competent students appear. There's a reason that fuel starvation is the #2 or #3 leading cause of accidents in general aviation.

[@idekav.]

I’m genuinely curious on the sit down when you guys found out it was due to fuel, what did the owner say? I know as CFIs you guys are close to the airplane owner

[@svenf1]

@@kevin1873 Gotta cut him at least some slack - he was a student pilot faced with unusual last-minute distractions (runway change, 360 on downwind, other traffic for same runway); looks like he was just about to go GUMPS as he ran out of fuel (on the selected tank).

[@ExMachina70]

For a student pilot that guy is calm af.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Yeah his radio manner was very old-school professional.

[@Chukklezzzz]

Gotta stay cool

[@BNatoAk]

Regardless of his fuel debacle, I bet this student is gonna make one hell of a pilot some day.

[@WingITFlightSim]

I bet he NEVER forgets to check fuel status EVER AGAIN. And agreed- no matter what happened, nerves of steel in an emergency and got down safely.

[@robstanton9215]

Great report. I love it when a student proves his cool, doesn’t panic, and lives to fly again!

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Yeah we've seen a lot of veteran pilots make errors on par with this and not live to tell the tale.

[@escsniper]

I'm not a pilot, and I likely never will be, but these videos are extremely informative and compelling! Keep them coming!

[@adb012]

This solo student pilot has amazing skills. Not just flying skills, but also communicational and emotional skills. His ability to correctly understand, read back, and follow a series of counter-order instruction from the tower is a hint that he has an excellent mental picture (situational awareness). The way he handled the emergency like a champ was amazing. His ability to remain calm, collected and focused is extraordinary. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT HE IS JUST A STUDENT PILOT FLYING SOLO. I want to be his passenger when he becomes an airline captain. And give his instructor a medal too please. EDIT: I have to put all of the above in a little bit of perspective now that I learned that the cause of the accident was fuel mismanagement. Apparently they situation would not have happened, or it would have been rectified, had he just switched tanks to one that was not empty. While I still commend all of the above, and I see how forgetting to switch tanks in the pattern can happen to any of us, the engine failure memory items should have kicked on by instinct the moment that he lost power. Fuel pump on, mixture rich, switch tank to a tank that has fuel.

[@pilot-debrief]

He handled it great even if it was in fact caused by a switch error on his part that led to fuel starvation.

[@adb012]

@@pilot-debrief ... I cannot agree. He handled a lot of things great, as I mentioned in the previous comment, but he didn't handle the engine failure great. Apparently he didn't switch tanks AFTER the engine failure which should be one of the memory items for engine failure. That is not handling an engine failure great.

[@jllee9189]

I couldn’t agree with “Pilot - debrief” enough, before any student goes solo, they should be given an oral on their EP procedures, if for any reason they can not recite them probably, they should not be allowed to go solo that day (BUSTED). I instructed in the military for many years and our pilot candidates had to recite every EP verbatim (every dote, every comma, every period). I hope his instructor was given a harsh review by the accident board for allowing a student to go solo who clearly was not taught his EP procedures as well as he should have been (if he was then this accident would not have happen)!

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

BULLSHTTTT. The first thing you do if engine quit totally is CHANGE TANKS, FUEL PUMP ON. He forgot it and fucked up bit time..

[@doubleslit9513]

Totally w/you I felt exactly the same before and after hearing the cause. All of your points agreed to, I have two comments: 1. How in God’s name are fuel tank switches still a cause of accidents with all the automation available these days? 2. IMHO, once the student contacted the tower, and identified himself as a student the tower should’ve immediately given him priority to land, rather than treating him, as though he were just another veteran aviator in the air and sending him downwind. This would also have avoided the accident. Again, this is why students are required to identify themselves as students!

[@bertjesklotepino]

the way the student pilot says: "Yeah, i'm not gonna make it" That was chilling to hear. He was fully aware of the situation. To keep that cool in the head is amazing for a student in my opinion.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I remember a recent one where the pilot said the same thing and he didn't live through the crash.

[@bertjesklotepino]

@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 so? What are you trying to say if i may be so blunt to ask?

[@possel4747]

There was a case in the UK in 2006 (G-BABB) when a student pilot in a 150 on 2nd solo was asked to orbit on final (less than a mile from the runway) to allow a faster aircraft (a PA46T) to land first. This was not a manoeuvre which the pilot had been trained to do and he lost control, spun in and died. As a direct result of this accident, they introduced a suitable R/T prefix to signify a student pilot, flying solo. They also emphasised to controllers that "pilots identifying themselves as students have limited ability, which must be taken into consideration when issuing instructions". This is precisely what happened here; the controller was told that it was a student pilot but seemed to take no note of that fact. What is the point of saying you are a student if the controller then changes your landing runway and extends you downwind?

[@stevenglikin3219]

it seems like he was trying to create an environment for an easier landing for the student by getting the traffic out of the way and giving him a clear runway

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

The tower isn't responsible for making sure the pilot remembers to check his fuel tanks. The student made the critical error, not the tower.

[@EyeCue23]

That’s 1 hell of a story to tell at the bar 👏🏾 salute to him for staying calm

[@sludge8506]

He ran out of fuel because he didn’t switch fuel sources. Yep, I would like to hear that story!! 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@chriskatherman1488]

​@@sludge8506seems thats usually the case....man think about his main cfi...if thats true about the fuel tanks then buddy didnt run his checklists after he trimmed it up...i imagine they had a fun talk

[@sludge8506]

@@chriskatherman1488 👍👍👍

[@sludge8506]

@@chriskatherman1488 Yeah, it was unfortunate, but the student reportedly continued his flight training. 👏👏👏🥳

[@d3w4yn3]

I WAS CHEERING FOR HIM TO SURVIVE!!! Glad he made it! Despite everything, that student pilot is a tightly wrapped pilot!

[@shadowshow701]

That student pilot was an absolute legend. Brilliant job by him to remain so cool and adaptable. Very happy he made it too!

[@josephhinton5489]

This is a good example of why, after obtaining a commercial pilot's license, I never flew a passenger and gave up flying. Half the time a pilot can't even understand what the traffic controller is saying due to noise, their tendency to speak very fast and into a microphone headset that is old, not positioned close to their mouths and sounds like a Jack in the Box drive through speaker. Life is too short to put up with that much BS.

[@annwood6812]

I wonder why they talk so fast.

[@b-man1232]

I'm not a pilot, but I love to watch these types of videos. Honestly, flying does not appear to be that difficult, it's the communication with the air traffic controllers that can be extremely confusing at times. They talk so fast, and they're dealing with a number of planes all at once.. .if you don't listen carefully, it could be catastrophic! I guess with experience it gets easier, but to your average person, it's a bit overwhelming to say the least

[@mattsqwrl]

Yeah flying the aeroplane isn't that difficult most of the time, in some ways it's easier than driving. But navigation, ATC, weather etc gives you a lot to keep on top of as a solo pilot.

[@1pecrnet]

You should start flying. Clearly you think it’s exciting to learn this stuff.

[@b-man1232]

@@1pecrnet nahhh, I stick to KZbin vids.......of flying!😁

[@GingeRenee]

@@1pecrnetI would like to learn to fly but it’s very expensive.

[@realestatemedianorthwest7018]

Flying's easy. Try landing!

[@yveaux500]

I'd hire that student straight away. Stayed calm and survived ditching. Great job on his part.

[@marcospark2803]

To hire him for what's role?

[@frankh.5378]

Well student forgot to switch tanks and lost an fully functional airplane!

[@sludge8506]

@@frankh.5378 Very true, but that wasn’t known at the time.

[@GlossaME]

@@frankh.5378 because he was a....student? I'm sure you're a captain right.....

[@Thinks-First]

I"ve been a pilot for decades and I still get confused when they have me start an approach and then switch it to join the downwind for another approach they haven't even told me about yet. I tell them I need a moment to orient myself and it's usually no problem. Once it clicks, then I'm good. Don't expect to make changes like that in an instant. It's ok to think it through for a few moments and tell tower to wait a moment to orient yourself.

[@jimmydulin928]

Well done. Crop dusting in the old days with tired Stearman, Pawnee, and CallAir, I got to do that several times. This student stayed calm and flew the airplane. Even at low altitude there are generally places to survive if we just fly to whatever is down there.

[@pilot-debrief]

Yep, he did a great job!

[@acasualviewer5861]

no kidding.. my CFI said I should solo soon.. but after viewing this video.. I think I still have a lot to learn before taking that on.

[@JeremySartain-if6gl]

Student pilots cannot accept LAHSO. The tower was best to do what they did. Best not to sandwich a student pilot and vector them to the tail end of the rush. Nobody could have known an engine failure would happen (though I wonder about oil pressure and temp gauges which you don’t look at that much on approach in traffic).

[@pilot-debrief]

Thanks for pointing out my mistake regarding LAHSO for students. It’s been over 20 years since I began flying and I forgot about that. I agree that no one could have predicted the engine failure, so there was nothing wrong with what the tower did.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

I always thought that traffic already in the pattern, sans some sort of emergency, was to be prioritized over traffic joining the pattern. Prioritizing the Gulfstream in this cause caused a great deal of counterinstructions to other aircraft in the pattern.

[@TheJapanChannelDcom]

Young dude has the right disposition for flying. Well done, young man.

[@oegan]

kudos to the pilot for being able to safely land it on the water, and being to walk away from it to fly another day!

[@pilot-debrief]

Absolutely! He did a great job!

[@Justwantahover]

It was a good landing.

[@zyeborm]

@@Justwantahoverwith the engine off they could probably use the plane again. Great landing ;-)

[@nathanleon2895]

Switch fuel tanks, or demonstrate a water landing. He walked away, great landing. As a pilot it seems obvious to me now, but with only 20 hours experience I'd be planning for what I was confident I could do and not trying to solve a problem I didn't realize I created. He obeyed the prime directive, fly the plane, see and avoid. Good job.

[@chrisclermont456]

Your point is well taken. I've heard Hoover say many times, "when emergencies happen, remember to just fly the plane!" Sometimes that's easier said than done. Glad nobody was injured!! 😅

[@hefeibao]

Agreed, 20 hours isn't much and while I presume he had to memorize engine-out, engine-fire, etc. emergencies before being allowed to solo, it's one thing to practice it a few times and quite another to have it actually happen. Best part is he didn't panic, though I'd think checking fuel would be part of engine-out? At least in the Cessna it's part of your flow.

[@braincraven]

As a glider pilot, I know to stay close with extra energy to the runway. Your suggestion of keeping him in the pattern by flying overhead is a great suggestion.

[@darrentrapp6990]

The thing is, nobody knew his engine was going to fail. If it didn't fail, this manoeuvre would have been fine. If his engine failed in the practice area/in the country side, the airport wouldn't have even been close to gliding distance. Overflying the field would have put him at risk of collision if one of the other incoming aircraft had to do a missed approach for whatever reason. In a plane who's engine isn't about to fail, this decision to do a right 360 was maintaining aircraft separation thus mitigating the most likely risk.

[@bartmaes8202]

The go-around is an option, but the Tower Controller might have thought that the safest way was a right turn into the downwind 28. If, for whatever reason the Gulfstream goes around from 28 (Whatever reason/ws/dog on the runway, ...), close to the runway, you might be in a more difficult position as a Tower Controller with two aircraft in a go around with a crossing point over the airport.... Anyway - Job well done by Pilot(s) and ATCO!

[@quackers584]

It’s not a great suggestion lol the controller did a good job here putting aircraft where they needed to be. Also, What happens if he tells 08W to go around and then the G4 needs to go around? You now have 2 aircraft executing go arounds directly over the field. Not a good idea

[@bruceatkinson5357]

I noticed in some of your videos, you have some shots of a Beech Musketeer N7986L. Most of my PP training, solo and flight test was done in that aircraft. I passed it in 1975. I looked up the number, and it’s still flying. Very cool to see it. Thanks. I enjoy your videos. It would have been nice to have such training aids way back then.

[@kennyward4674]

😊That student sounded like his heart rate never got above 80. Awesome job!!

[@pilot-debrief]

Definitely very calm!

[@johnjorgensen6882]

Yeah, I'm not so sure I'd have been as chill if I ran into a problem when I flew my solo.

[@brentsummers7377]

@@johnjorgensen6882 Problem with many airports and training fields there are no really good options if the engine fails at say 500 feet to 700 feet. If you are lucky there might be a field, wide street or water.

[@johnjorgensen6882]

@@brentsummers7377 Yeah, the idea of flying out east is pretty scary for that reason. I'm flying out of KAEG, and there is nothing but flat desert and plenty of places to do an off-airport landing if trouble arises.

[@dabneyoffermein595]

your heart rate drops 10bpm for every F-bomb you drop. He started at 120bpm

[@fingerhorn4]

If you have declared mayday, NOTHING should get in the way of a controller getting you down IMMEDIATELY. Other aircraft can all go around, hold, or divert. The ONLY thing that matters from Mayday declaration onwards is that the controller is completely focussed on getting the stricken aircraft down, preferably on the nearest runway, and directly - no downwinds, no pattern protocols, no procedures: get the plane down on a flat surface. All other "rules" go out the window along with LAHSO in these circumstances. Get a stricken aircraft down by any means. and get others out of the way on the ground or airborne.

[@myrlstone8904]

That’s in the FAR’s unless something has changed. Scratching my head on this one.

[@pilot-debrief]

When the student declared MAYDAY, he was given priority, but he was too far away from the field to land. The audio at the beginning of the video was just a sneak peek of what was to come.

[@wturn5354]

From what I understand the pilot did not declare an emergency until in downwind for rwy 28. The controller gave him priority as soon as it was declared. The controller resequenced the pilot for 28 when it was clear that the jet on final for 28 was a tie to the airport. From what I heard the controller did nothing wrong

[@rickwiggins283]

I was also confused by this video at first as I thought the MAYDAY happened right at the beginning.

[@PatJones82]

I got screwed around by my controller on my solo exactly like this guy did. To me, he treated this solo pilot as if he was a seasoned flyer and although the Pilot handled it extremely well, it didn't have to be like this.

[@user-cz8lj8kd7h]

It’s pretty heavy airspace, he’s not jerking him around. He’s got responsibility to all of us, that goes for us flying jets into these places and new pilots. There’s not a fine middle ground for ATC to cater for student pilots, just have to give the best he can for all aircraft concerned. In jets our ref speeds are between 112-140kts…so there’s a lot going on for all concerned. ATC will help new guys as much as they can, but don’t think they’ll jeopardize safety of the rest of us for a student pilot.

[@jdev232]

​@@user-cz8lj8kd7h all that being said... wouldn't you want the least capable out of the sky first?

[@lyingcat9022]

I’m a student PPL and this all sounded reasonable to me. If I was established in the pattern and given these instructions I wouldn’t have been bothered. They were all clear and relatively simple instructions to fly. I’ve spent most my pattern work in busy class D’s and have been worked around like this with no problems. I just always ask for confirmation if I have doubts before assuming some instruction.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@jdev232 Nope... To answer your question directly (even if user-cz...etc. won't)... I don't want the least capable pilot out of the SKY first... I just want him out of the WAY, at all... period. If that be on the ground, so be it... BUT with student pilots on their earliest solos, that simply is NOT going to be the case. 9 out of 10 of those kids are going to be doing "Touch and goes" to learn the runway protocols and patterns, and ALL the BS-jargon we're using up here... SO the best, is to situate him out of the WAY of the jets. That's just achieve some separation. As mentioned in the video... "optimally" it would have been to acknowledge and permit his "go around" the first time, (where Pilot Debrief discussed how the go-around would have kept him closer to the airport and runway... within glide distance... and all)... A "close second" might've been a 180 instead of the 360 right, to return to his original suggestion of the "go around" and let THAT be the end of it... a change in altitude, maybe, to stay clearly separated... BUT NOBODY foresaw the engine failure... AND we don't know what other factors might've played into the Tower Controller making that call... It's not so different from us in traffic on the ground. NOBODY is going to learn how to keep up and operate a motor vehicle if you keep telling them to park that damn thing and throw away their keys! They GOTTA LEARN, and that means US "veterans" being capable and patient enough to make allowances for the "noob's" to find space OUT OF THE G** D*** WAY... Fair enough... There are (usually) slow lanes to take up with Maw and Paw Kettle and Grandma Moses... If someone can't handle the faster lanes and passing or express lanes, they can ease over to the slow one(s) and be out of the way while they get used to just operating their vehicle... AND I ride a motorcycle... If anybody's going to "lose" on the ground, it's me, first... worst... FOREMOST. The real difference in aviation is that EVERYONE LOSES when it goes south... BUT the principle SHOULD still apply. Noob's get NOWHERE when they don't get to fly. It's a bad idea to give them all the priorities, either... SO any means by which they can be patiently guided just OUT OF THE WAY... so regular traffic isn't put at unnecessary risk, is probably about the best call to make. It's kind of unfortunate we can't just pop over on the shoulder and take a breather in an airplane... BUT until some aerospace engineer invents a way (and probably makes himself the richest man in history) we're gonna have to accept it as it is... warts and all. ;o)

[@calcutronsmith9198]

The controller definitely jerked him around. First, the controller cleared the student pilot to land runway 1 and then next transmission just casually tells him "enter left downwind runway 28", without ever saying "cancel landing clearance". The tower should not be so casually changing runways for any pilot on short final, but especially an inexperienced student pilot. If ATC needed to cancel his landing clearance, they needed to explicitly say so and let him perform a normal go around by climbing straight ahead, don't give him a dangerous instruction to make an immediate 90 right turn to a new downwind when he is low and slow getting ready to land - that's a perfect recipe for a stall/spin. The controller then proceeded to give the student pilot (who he had cleared to land) absolute last priority and let all the other aircraft that were further out land before him.

[@liliiavoevodina6245]

Well done student! Stayed calm and did the job so well. This is my nighmarest nightmare of all to have to have a forced landing on the water and go upside down and just not be able to get out of the aeroplane in time....imagine survive a ditch impact and then drown. Living in the south-west of the UK I often fly over the Channel and I always tell myself: whatever happens - remember to crack the doors open and keep that nose wheel up out of the water!!! I'd rather smash myself harder on the water than get the Piper upside down :D

[@EllsworthJohnson-ui1xm]

Student piolt did an amazing job, sounded very calm

[@mattalford3932]

I just watched a guy freak out in a simulator trying to land an airliner. This kid in real danger is calm.

[@sludge8506]

He ran out of fuel because he didn’t switch fuel sources.

[@likestoospooge]

There’s no way I could ever be a pilot based on the communication alone. It’s like everybody is intentionally trying to make their speech impossible to understand. It’s baffling to me that you don’t have to speak clear and concise. I’d be asking control “repeat that” after every sentence.

[@James-dg6xe]

Never say "repeat" over the radio. Say "say again"

[@rscrymes]

@@James-dg6xeI learned that in the military, but I have heard pilots say it. I mean no one is going to launch indirect fire because of a pilot’s radio call 😂

[@MikeM275]

I got my private license at Savannah International and flew many hundreds of hours out of Savannah. @ about 100 hrs or so I was flying back up the coast with a friend (also a pilot) in the school 172. Suddenly the cockpit was full of smoke. Worst nightmare! I radioed approach I had smoke in the cockpit and was turning off all electrical. They said to come in on the lights and do we want "the equipment" .. I looked at him, he looked at me, we both shook our heads no. I radioed negative on "the equipment" as I didn't want a huge scene at the airport lol. So now all electric is off, we're both earnestly looking for landing spots just in case, but the motor is still running fine. No actual fire (or we would have put down ASAP)... We came in "on the lights" as trained...including pointing the nose toward the tower at intersections....taxied back to the ramp. I will always remember every CFI and the chief pilot, Jack Brinson, meeting us at the plane. First thing he did was shake my hand and tell me thank you for not crashing my plane lol. Most pilots go thru their entire career without needing the lights. Everything worked out fine...

[@scottmcg666]

Would you ask for the equipment if it happens again? Also what caused the smoke?

[@MikeM275]

@@scottmcg666 Under the same circumstance and particularly if flying the same type of plane I would *not* ask for equipment. If there had been fire yes. (But had there been fire we woulda immediately landed). We were low and slow, plenty of fields, and even the beach if needed to sit it down. I could have gotten it on the ground in 1 or so minutes if we saw actual flame; probably a few seconds less with a good slip. With no flame and under good power we simply came in low and slow. Landing at 50knts isn't the same sensational crashes like seen when heavy's or jets come in and crash land. So either we ditch if see flame, or simply land. The smoke it was found came from the panel box. So immediately calling tower then flipping off all electrical as trained circumvented any short turning into actual fire (thank goodness). Not sure exactly what in the panel box but it was an easy fix they said. There were a few uneasy minutes while simultaneously looking for fields and watching that panel for flame or more smoke, but it was uneventful after flipping off electrical. I flew that plane many more times after that event.

[@beaversixniner]

The student pilot did a pro job handling the emergency! Good job sir!

[@kimjones2056]

A pro would have switched fuel tanks

[@eshelly4205]

Student pilot sounded like a pro! Well done

[@eugenethestoner]

That clip of the plane with ur pic pasted on the window during the mayday call, just owned me for some reason. 😂🤣🤣🤣

[@HiddenWindshield]

10:43 No, this isn't an option. Student pilots aren't allowed to LAHSO.

[@pilot-debrief]

Good catch! Thanks! Been a long time since I was a student!

[@FriendlyMarmot]

Noticed that too, and started checking comments to see if anyone had replied that already. Good on you both!

[@kathleenmckenna8578]

I am not a pilot and I have never had flying lessons. I love hearing about these airplane scenarios and the people (passengers) landing planes without experience, terrifying but exhilarating at the same time. Solos with problems and rectified with training instructors talking them down, so cool.

[@Cappilot1]

you should consider learning to fly! It's the coolest thing you can do!!

[@JY8949]

Way to keep calm and handle an emergency , i have 700+ hours in a Cherokee and can’t say i would have Been that calm… he will make a great pilot ,

[@Indy1977TX]

One slight error at 9:23 is Sully was flying for US Airways not United when the “Miracle on the Hudson” happened.

[@sludge8506]

He could have made tetorboro if he tried.

[@miked5539]

@@sludge8506 Could, if...not two conditions that maybe might work.

[@jasonworden8209]

That rookie is the man! Good job!

[@rob379lqz]

I remember witnessing it, while living outta my van, down by the River!

[@Whateva67]

You’re not gonna amount to JACK SQUAT😫

[@sludge8506]

Rob was cooking a road kill raccoon at the time.

[@bryangorman890]

Haha thanks for bluring my face in the sportcruiser picture. So random I was like “hey that’s me!” 😂

[@BuckeyeStormsProductions]

Back in the late 70's, my Dad, on his first solo, had an engine issue, and quickly cleared back to the airport to land. His instructor on the ground, who wasn't aware of what was happening, thought he had panicked and turned back early out of fear. My Dad said the instructor came up to him upset at first. Once my Dad explained what happened, his demeanor changed, and he told him he did a great job. My Dad said he was perfectly calm in the situation, but could barely walk away from rhe plane because his legs instantly went to jello when he was safely on the ground.

[@scotabot7826]

If you're in the pattern, you should always be at a altitude to make the runway, anywhere in the pattern, in case of a engine failure, as long as the tower doesn't run you way out on a downwind or something similar! This pilot did a outstanding job with his engine failure! Bravo Sir!!

[@Paiadakine]

That’s true except when you are told to extend downwind cause someone is doing a 3 mile final.

[@DaveDepilot-KFRG]

Easier said than done. I trained at FRG which is the 3rd busiest airport in NY behind JFK and LGA, so we often got extended on downwind to 5-6 miles, being number 6 or 7 in sequence. And you had to stay at 1000' because if you climbed even to 1100 they would yell because all the turbine planes were at 1500 and descending towards the runway.

[@tombrown1898]

I really enjoy these videos. I'm 70 years old, but even at 30 I couldn't have understood all that was coming at me over the radio. And as far as visualizing the situation, that just isn't the way my mind works. BTW, Sully flew for US Air, not United. Keep up the great videos!

[@PostcardsfromAlaska]

When engine quits at 1000 feet, I’ve seen even experienced pilots get fixated on the ground, and assume there’s no time for troubleshooting or checklists. That’s why I mentally brief myself, and train others, when operating low, that you switch tanks at the first sign of trouble. Because statistics. Nobody intentionally runs a tank dry, so there is a phase of denial, that fuel exhaustion can’t possibly be the problem. There’s no time to hash that out, and there’s precious little time at low altitude, to take your eye off the ground rushing up at you, to run through memory items. Therefore: if all else fails, switch tanks, then get ready for forced landing. All the other bullshit your instructor trains you to do, like tightening seat belts, crack doors, briefing pax, squawk 7500, bullshit with tower or flight following, etc…all that goes out the window when you’re in a real emergency. In fact, I’d say if there’s time for all that happy horseshit, you aren’t really in an emergency. Yet.

[@clutchcrgo]

That was a good Pilot Debrief. The student pilot kept his cool, kept his wings level (to the extent possible), and landed the plane.

[@brentsummers7377]

He did a fantastic job landing in the river as did the rescuers. Things are a lot simpler when there is only one runway even if it is busy. It makes things really complicated for a student pilot if there is a chance of two runways being in use.

[@pilot-debrief]

Definitely!

[@tommurrell6146]

For whatever reason, that one got to me emotionally. I was so relieved to hear the student pilot was safe. His instructor should be proud and the pilot commended.

[@WoBlink1961]

Huge respect to that student; although no doubt he was terrified and dealing with more than he was probably equipped for, his radio calls were clear, concise and calm - which would have helped him control any panic. I think we can all forgive him the odd expletive!!!! (If it had been me, the air would have been blue!!!)

[@cloudno10dreamcatcher83]

Even for experienced pilots a big challenge , but for a Student Pilot a pretty good job . . . . . respect!!!!

[@david_2364]

Student pilot?! Could’ve fooled me. Excellent job. This guy can do this as a profession 👏🏽

[@operationoverlord100]

Yet he let the engine starve of fuel?

[@sludge8506]

He ran out of fuel because he didn’t switch fuel sources.

[@57boomer44]

Very impressed with the student pilot's voice discipline.

[@SuggonDeizNutz]

Great stuff! Keep doing what you're doing with these videos...👍

[@pilot-debrief]

Thank you! Appreciate you being a part of the channel!

[@jondear772]

The force is strong with this one ! He looks pretty happy after doing a Sully. Good on him !

[@martynh5410]

This student was confident and handled a very bad situation very well. He will go on to be a great pilot.

[@williampotter2098]

That student kept his cool much more than I would expect. The tower should have given the student priority over the aircraft after the Gulfstream passed. Jerking a student around like that can be disorienting for a student. This student handled it extremely well, but another student may have been a nervous wreck after all that and then even more so when the engine quit.

[@jmflyer55]

Actually this controller sounds like a really good controller. As for the traffic, that’s completely normal at any busy general aviation airport, and actually, is the absolute best way to learn to fly. Because that’s real world flying. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard someone using profanity over the radio since it’s strictly forbidden, I suppose they cut the kid some slack due to the situation. It’s also important to remember as PIC, you are the final authority of the aircraft. Not the controller. Many students today have strange ideas about ATC. Not sure what they’re being taught to cause this, but the bottom line is the PIC has ultimate responsibility for everything the aircraft does. With that in mind, the student could have at anytime requested to land runway 1. He didn’t have to hope the controller would ask him. I’d like to know what caused the engine failure, and what exactly it was. I mean it seems and sounds like the student didn’t even attempt restarting the engine. And at a thousand feet he had plenty of time to do so. Carb icing? Failed magnetos? Catastrophic cylinder failure etc.? Perhaps the NTSB has a preliminary report out on it. I’ll check and if there is, I’ll come back and write what I found out into this comment. PS*… While many were saying “great job” to the student pilot, and the pic of the student standing with rescuers having a nonchalant smile on his face after being rescued, the NTSB conducted the full investigation. The student pilot had 25 hours of flight time. (that’s a fair amount of time. By 25 hours, a decent student has a pretty good handle on the basics. He was conducting one of his required “cross country” flights. This term means flying to an airport over 50 nautical air miles away. (It didn’t state he was on his one long cross country trip to 3 AirPorts, but he may have been. Upon investigation of the aircraft, and full disassembly of the engine and testing of ALL components, it was found that all components were in 100% good working order with NO defects. Upon further inspection of the aircraft, it was found that the aircraft was OUT OF FUEL. With less than 2 to 3 gallons in the left wing, and less than 4 gallons in the right wing. With only 5 or 6 gallons total onboard, the aircraft was below its useable fuel level. The tank switch was set to one side tank, (RH) instead of “Both Tanks” position. The engine coughed once and decreased to maintain 300 RPM’s. So, there you have it! The student pilot ran his aircraft out of gas. There was nothing wrong with the aircraft at all. During preflight, student pilots are required to file a flight plan. Check fuel levels, and carry at least an hour of reserve fuel above and beyond what the trip requires. Obviously, this was not done, or was done wrong. The fuel tanks should have been filled before he left providing hours of extra fuel for the trip. This is a terrible waste of an aircraft, and a sign of the most irresponsible pilots that are flying. There’s absolutely NO EXCUSE for a student to run out of gas. I sure hope the FAA will punish him accordingly and perhaps his instructor as well. This could have been a fatal accident very easily, and it occurred out of either complete lack of preflight ability, or reckless and dangerous operation of an aircraft. But that’s for the FAA to decide.

[@frankh.5378]

Student failed to switch tanks.

[@Justwantahover]

I bet that experience will help his confidence and awareness (to look for landing spots) in case of engine failure, in the future. And he may be cautious but more confident, seeing that he servived the last one. I just can't believe how calm and casual he was for a student pilot going solo with an engine failure. And especially when he calmy said that he will just put it down in the water.

[@sludge8506]

He ran out of fuel because he didn’t switch fuel sources.

[@jimhenderson387]

I'm probably a little hard of hearing, plus I'm not a pilot, so I'm not used to hearing these communications, but it usually seems to me that controllers talk fast and don't enunciate clearly. In other words, I find a lot of this talk hard to understand. I don't know, maybe it's just something you get used to.

[@brianbenoit6883]

'So what'd you do this weekend?' 'Not much, watched Sully on Netflix...how about you?' 'Oh I PULLED a Sully'

[@jimkoney4200]

He's got the "right stuff".

[@kimjones2056]

The right stuff would have been to switch fuel tanks

[@sludge8506]

He ran out of fuel because he didn’t switch fuel sources.

[@RussClarkRocks]

Young man kept his cool. Well done.

[@wokeupandsmellthecoffee214]

Excellent overall assessment which I really enjoyed, kudos to the student pilot for not panicking and also to the coastguard for a speedy rescue. Subbed you regards from UK.

[@pilot-debrief]

Glad you found the channel and welcome!

[@secretsquirrel4642]

I swear - I am hooked/ intrigued❗️ You are an excellent commentator sir. 🙏

[@darrentrapp6990]

Had he done a go around, following the pattern you laid out, it looks as though he would have been in the way on cross wind if one of those aircraft on final did a missed approach for whatever reason. By doing a right 360, the controller was keeping him well out of the way. As you said, no one knew his engine was going to fail.

[@alienxyt]

Excellent point. My 2 cents, as at least one other mentioned, an adjustment to downwind on the crossing runway made more sense at the time the controller made the request.

[@larrydickenson8922]

The airplane knew.

[@weeyee60]

I am not a pilot, but I am one of your newest Followers. Your videos are quite intriguing.

[@craig8727]

The controller is speaking too fast with poor enunciation

[@JonathanCalkins]

"Hey honey, how was your solo flight today?" "Oh pretty good, had to land in the river"

[@WingITFlightSim]

And sorry, mom, I said "f***" a couple of times. 😂

[@asfnash17]

You aren’t required to say student solo at all, it’s just something that may be useful to you as a student to give awareness to those around you and any controller.

[@pilot-debrief]

Many flight schools require it, but you’re right, it’s not an FAA requirement. In general, I think it’s good practice, at least on your initial contact with the controller.

[@asfnash17]

@@pilot-debrief Yeah it can be a good practice for sure. My instructor has really said say it if you want but I have decided to really only use it if I get an instruction I don't understand.

[@TheEric1203]

I was looking for a comment addressing this, wondering if I had messed up. I never said it as a student solo 😅

[@stevenwest000]

Great rescue and combined efforts

[@misfittoytower]

I have a feeling that Piliot Debrief will never again forget that student pilots cannot perform a LAHSO. 😂

[@wuffa4503]

Why did the controller not tell the potentially conflicting aircraft to give way to the emergency and vector them out of the way until the emergency was over?

[@VictoryAviation]

Good debrief. Not to split hairs, but what regulation states that a student pilot that is flying solo must announce "student pilot"? I thought this was more of a best practices type of procedure. I can't say I've ever seen in writing that it is required, but I'm happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.

[@pilot-debrief]

Technically, I don't think it's an FAA requirement. When I was a student, the instructor sure didn’t make it sound like it was optional. 😜 I know that some flight schools require their students to do this and most instructors advise their students to include it at least in their initial radio call to the controlling agency / tower so that way the controller can adjust the pacing of their radio calls or pay a little closer attention to the aircraft. In general, it's just good practice and I highly recommend applying it as this student did (not on every single radio call).

[@VictoryAviation]

@@pilot-debrief That makes sense. I certainly used it if a controller was speaking at light speed. I think it’s a great idea and certainly allows others on freq to be more aware, especially ATC of course. None of my flight schools required it but it was encouraged for sure. Keep up the great work. These are all excellent learning tools!

[@denverbraughler3948]

It’s like requesting priority handling without rolling the trucks. Most importantly, he had to say this to prevent receiving a LAHSO.

[@kaasmeester5903]

@@pilot-debrief My CFI never told me to, except to mention it when declaring an emergency so that the controller instantly knows what level of proficiency to expect, and give instructions accordingly.

[@luvmydeck]

I am not a pilot and I don't think I could be because I have a hard time understanding the radio traffic. I am glad others can do it.

[@richardcox6935]

Why the Hell did the controller allow the Right-Hand Traffic?

[@dabneyoffermein595]

it's beyond me

[@nickruffini5405]

I watch so many of these videos and have basically come to the realization that it's not a matter of IF you'll have an engine failure, it's when.

[@rogercurtiss3768]

9:27...Sully was a USAir captain not United. 10:32-the left turn on a go-around would have placed the airplane to the west of the airport not the east. Also, at 6:44 it sounds as if this is a different controller than earlier. Whether that was a factor in deciding how to handle the arrivals might have also factored in.

[@pilot-debrief]

Thanks for catching that! I misspoke and didn't catch those few things. I didn't even notice the possible change in controller voice either!

[@ricktaylor1548]

Good student pilot. He kept his head and has the makings of a great pilot.

[@sludge8506]

Only if he remembers to monitor his fuel correctly. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@williamdaly1005]

I could never get a license to fly because I can’t understand a word that air traffic control is saying. I would always be asking, “ Can you repeat that?”

[@terranhealer]

Or s l o w the F down please 🙏

[@RedShnow]

Can you imagine him posing like Tom Cruise with those helicopter guys like oh I survived… then you find out he forgot to switch the fuel tank.

[@gryper1690]

Good job, kid. He walked away. Give him the Sully Award.

[@PointOfNoResponsePODCAST]

began thinking of beginning my ppl. This seems to be a great place for honest piloting instruction. thank you for that!

[@PointOfNoResponsePODCAST]

PS... I'm Odd Todd from Point of No Response Podcast lol

[@JPEaglesandKatz]

I'm so glad the pilot made it out fine... He did a fantastic job!!!! He has some skills.....

[@Darkvirgo88xx]

Pilots with way more experience run out of fuel and never come back, so to pretend your not human and ride this student for fuel is pointless. The main thing is remaining calm, flying all the way into the crash and coming home. Its much better then stall and spinning to your demise with plenty of fuel.

[@AlexVidrov]

Nobody is ever required to announce to anyone that they are a student solo. That’s not in the regulation.

[@hunterfelix4591]

It’s so weird that I’m sitting at this airport and watching this

[@nbt3663]

Its amazing how fast that happens. So glad the pilot was fine. Cant believe the plane didnt flip over due to the drag of the wheels.

[@Ratlins9]

Great job by this student pilot, great rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard.

[@juliajanssens8432]

A mini-Sully ! Well done student pilot.

[@LooseGravel14]

When I was getting flight instruction (in a Cessna 140} , at 35 hours my instructor said she was recommending me for a check ride. I thought I needed 40 hours. She said if your instructor recommended a check ride at 35 it was approved. I had my license in 36 1/2 hours.

[@donreid6399]

Student pilot sounds like Sullenberger: "Yeah, I can put it down in the water if I have to." Ballsy young man!

[@kevinheard8364]

That was great ... all the way around. Thank ou so much for your channel & your efforts

[@chaosinsurgency5793]

I always thought when you declare mayday that you get priority

[@vut_zarco]

Back when I was learning to fly a fellow student pilot ran out of fuel on a solo long nav C150. She landed on polo fields in a very built up area. She pulled it off! I often wondered if that happened to me what I would have done. She eventually got her commercial license. The plane was pushed back to the airport by the instructor and a few of his mates. Some 5 miles or so. He was a very relieved man.

[@jasond7978]

11:52 That pic goes hard.

[@davidkelly7831]

That student pilot was better and more professional than many qualified pilots I've come across. However I disagree that the controller did nothing wrong. Knowing he was a student pilot he should have given him some priority and kept things as simple as possible for him and not constantly changed the plans on him. Many students would not cope with that complexity and the controller was just lucky this guy was really good.

[@jhmcglynn]

Andrea - what great fun my friend. I see you made a stop at Danbury. I did my basic training there. Bought my first two airplanes there, a 1967 Cessna Cardinal and a 1979 Mooney M20K. Brings back memories, especially the Statue of Liberty tour. Our second date (my bride Sue and I) was the Statue of Liberty tour. I worked in NYC from 1970 till around 2002.

[@PhoenixChaos]

I’m an A&P Straight up, if your engine makes weird noises, and then dies 1. Check the fuel selector 2. Check the fuel gauge 3. Look back at your flaps to see if fuel is coming off of them. Some fuelers forget to put the cap back on SO MANY engine failure crashes happen because of fuel mismanagement Like SO MANY

[@rohanchung2185]

Thank God he was rescued by the coast guards. He did well as a student pilot.