Episode 88: Bouncing on Empty

Episode 88: Bouncing on Empty

Author: AOPA Air Safety Institute October 14, 2025 Duration: 32:55
During a mountain flying trip in a Cessna 172, Doug Tilghman and two companions become dangerously close to fuel exhaustion.

Imagine pulling up a chair in a virtual hangar, surrounded by pilots swapping their most gripping stories. That’s the feeling at the heart of "There I was..." An Aviation Podcast. Produced by the AOPA Air Safety Institute, each episode is a direct flight into real-world cockpit experiences, where seasoned aviators recount moments when weather, mechanics, or sheer chance threw them a curveball. You’ll hear the subtle tension in their voices as they describe navigating a sudden system failure or an unforecast storm, followed by the clear-headed decisions that led to a safe landing. This isn’t about sensationalism; it’s about the nuanced application of skill and training under pressure. The entire podcast is built on aviation’s rich tradition of “hangar flying”-that invaluable, informal passing of wisdom from one pilot to another. By listening, you gain access to a collective library of hard-won lessons, a resource that deepens your understanding of what it truly means to fly safely. Whether you’re a student pilot, a seasoned captain, or simply fascinated by the realities of flight, these narratives offer a profound and practical education, one compelling story at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 94

"There I was..." An Aviation Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 13: Dan Bass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:41
In this episode, we talk to Minnesota-based pilot Dan Bass. While flying his Mooney on a return trip from Ontario, Dan experienced carbon monoxide poisoning and lost consciousness while airborne. Hear Dan’s incredible st…
Episode 12: Air Trek [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:17
In this episode, we talk with Florida-based air ambulance service Air Trek. On a routine transport flight from Naples to Niagara Falls, Captain Bruce Monnier and co-captain Gerald Downs experienced a dual engine flameout…
Episode 11: Ed Regensburg and Jillian Harner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:27
Join us on an adventure in the Caribbean as we talk to Ed Regensburg, Cirrus SR22 pilot, and Lt. Jillian Harner, commander of a US Coast Guard HC-144. Flying home after a trip to St. Croix, Ed was piloting a Cirrus SR22…
Episode 10: Jim Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:02
25-year GA pilot Jim Johnson shares the story of a hot Sunday afternoon in Alabama when he set out to practice approaches in his Cessna 177RG, and experienced an engine failure just after takeoff. To see photos from Jim’…
Episode 9: Steve Guetter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:53
In this episode, we hear a story from Steve Guetter, president of the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association. Steve experienced a complete electrical failure while flying at night in his 1958 J model Bonanza. Listen in as…
Episode 8: Aaron Tippin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:12
Country music star Aaron Tippin has been a pilot since he was 16, just like his dad, and he’s keeping that tradition alive through his two sons, both of whom soloed more than one airplane on their 16th birthday. In this…
Episode 7: Mark Levy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:45
In this episode, British warbird pilot Mark Levy stops by Richard’s hangar to discuss an engine failure he experienced in a P-51 Mustang during the annual airshow at Duxford, England, in 2017. Levy recorded the entire ev…
Episode 6: Michael Goulian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:44
Airshow performer and aerobatic pilot Michael Goulian shares some interesting situations he’s encountered over a lifelong career of flying, and provides a few safety lessons along the way. Listen in as we chat with one o…
Episode 5: Mark Baker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:25
In this episode, we sit down with AOPA President & CEO, Mark Baker. Mark is an accomplished aviator with almost four decades of flying experience, and he has flown and owned over 100 airplanes throughout the years. Mark…
Episode 4: Kenny G [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:31
World-famous saxophonist Kenny G has been entertaining audiences for decades with his music – and he’s also a very accomplished pilot. As the owner of a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver since 1995, Kenny has flown all over the…