Episode 99: Trapped in the Wreckage

Well, my dad had formulated or started the FBO in Klamath Falls right after World War II, and my brothers actually had still owned it until 2008.

Okay.

So I grew up around aviation, around the FBO, but I didn't really have any interest in, in getting my pilot's license.

I was doing other things.

I wasn't gonna go into the business.

But in 1989 is when I actually started my flying lessons, and the reason for that being was I was, I was looking for a challenge, and I had obviously had the opportunity with airplanes available to me through the FBO, and my brother was an instructor and an examiner.

And I thought, "This is just gonna be a really nice opportunity to, to be able to fly, to go see friends in Seattle area, Portland area."

Mm-hmm.

I could go down to warm weather type of thing.

So it just seemed like a really good opportunity at that time-

Yeah

... to get involved in actually becoming a pilot.

And we're talking about Klamath Falls, Oregon.

So you were doing your flying mostly up and around in that area.

By the time of the flight we're going to hear about, you had done most of your training in Piper Warriors and Cessna 172s and the usual training aircraft?

Yeah, I also had time in a Cessna 182 and had actually done some pretty prolonged cross-countries.

I'd been up to British Columbia a couple of times.

I've been in- into, in Idaho once or twice at least, down to Southern California.

So based on what you said, that is true.

Mm-hmm.

But I'd also done some long-distance cross-country trips also.

Hmm.