The Sheila Variations

She sure can write, can't she...

That's an interesting story. I wanted to comment over there, but the "comments are closed".

I had a very similar experience - total engine failure in a single engine airplane, and I totally relate to how she reacted.

I remember thinking that I would fly it as best I could, but I really didn't see any place to land but trees. I thought (a) This is going to hurt, and (b) The insurance company is going to kill me.

Lucky for me it happened in daylight - my options would have been much reduced at night, and that event has colored my desire to fly single engine airplanes at night ever since.

But I would be very interested in hearing what caused the engine failure, and what kind of engine it was. I had TWO engines in that single engine airplane that failed when they shouldn't have - because the quality control of certain types of engines used in lots of small single engine airplanes just isn't what it is supposed to be.