Episode 91: Unexpected Spin

Episode 91: Unexpected Spin

Author: AOPA Air Safety Institute January 8, 2026 Duration: 28:02
Brad Cohen test flies his homebuilt Zenith Zodiac 601 XL. About 20 hours into testing, while working on departure and accelerated stalls, Brad enters an unexpected spin.

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 23: Robert Clark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:12
VFR into IMC continues to be a leading cause of fatal accidents in general aviation. In this episode, we talk to a pilot who was fortunate enough to escape from this highly dangerous scenario. Robert Clark recounts the s…
Episode 22: Mark Murphy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:24
Over the past 33 years of flying - including aerobatics in the P-51 Mustang, T-6 Texan, Japanese Zero, and F4U Corsair - pilot Mark Murphy has accumulated his share of stories. He joins us to talk about one such story -…
Episode 21: Thomas Middleditch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:12
Join us for a special episode as we chat with actor, comedian, screenwriter and general aviation pilot Thomas Middleditch about his flying adventures, including a time where a trip to Monument Valley (UT25) didn’t go as…
Episode 20: Gabrielle Palmas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:57
Not many pilots have survived a midair collision. Gabrielle Palmas experienced one in 2012, while working on her instrument rating. Now, years later, as second-in-command on a Lear 60, she joins us to tell her story.
Episode 19: Jeff King [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:52
GA pilot Jeff King shares the story of a 2009 incident in which he experienced an engine failure in his Cherokee Six, and made a forced landing in a nearby Walmart parking lot. To see video and photos from Jeff's inciden…
Episode 18: Chuck Cook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:29
In this episode, we hear an incredible survival story from Chuck Cook, T-28 warbird pilot. In the summer of 2018, shortly after a warning light in the cockpit caused him to separate from a formation flight and head back…
Episode 17: Greg Soter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:36
Join us as we talk to Greg Soter, a long-time GA pilot based in Utah. In 2013, Greg was flying a Cessna 172 for a company testing radar gear, when the equipment caught fire in the backseat and forced Greg to make an emer…
Episode 16: Patty Wagstaff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:52
We’re delighted to welcome back our inaugural podcast guest - Patty Wagstaff. Patty returns to tell about an incident in September of 2019, in which she and a fellow pilot experienced a runway excursion in Patty’s V-tail…
Episode 15: Julie Clark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:41
In this episode, we talk to aerobatic airshow performer and Living Legends of Aviation member Julie Clark. Against the backdrop of a distinguished career and her retirement in 2019, Julie shares some interesting experien…
Episode 14: Devin Miller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:46
Join us as we chat with Devin Miller, GA pilot and creator behind the Youtube channel, Family Pilot. Devin shares the story of a recent flight with his wife and children in a Piper Arrow, in which his throttle cable brea…