Episode 93: Windscreen Blowout

Episode 93: Windscreen Blowout

Author: AOPA Air Safety Institute March 17, 2026 Duration: 45:03
Arkansas pilot Greg Robbins is flying to lunch with his wife when the front windscreen and side doors of his Aeroprakt A22LS suddenly blow out. To see the video of the incident, click here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu23j1DsPOU

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: 50

"There I was..." An Aviation Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 87: Safety Pilot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:14
Bob Thomason recounts a tense IMC approach as safety pilot for a friend facing a cancer diagnosis. When his friend panics and fights the autopilot, Bob must intervene to stabilize the aircraft.
Episode 86: Engine Failure Over New Mexico [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:00
Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant Justin Lillie shares the story of an engine failure in his Mooney during an IFR cross-country flight with his family.
Episode 85: Three Greens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:46
Mark Sellers shares the story of a nighttime overwater flight in his Bellanca Viking where a landing gear issue arose during approach.
Episode 84: Missing Prop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:00
Mel Rushton recounts a harrowing nighttime IFR flight when the propeller of his Piper Comanche separated mid-flight over Florida.
Episode 83: Stuck Controls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:28
While departing Tampa Executive Airport in his Thorp S-18, Mujahid Abdulrahim finds himself dealing with severely limited motion in his control stick.
Episode 82: Icing in a Baron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:20
Scott Wright shares the story of a flight he made as a corporate pilot in a B58 Baron with five passengers, during which he had an encounter with icing.
Episode 81: Hard Landing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:41
Erick Mahle tells the story of a night flight in his flying club’s Bonanza with his family on board that included a memorable landing and some lessons learned.
Episode 80: A Clever Workaround [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:59
While flying in his 1966 Cessna 150F over Arizona, Chris Smith and his father must resort to some creative thinking to breathe life into a sputtering engine.
Episode 79: Lost Comms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:29
As a newly minted private pilot, Sara Gagné takes her mother on a sunset flight around the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Not expecting any adverse issues during her very first flight with a passenger, Sara finds herself unabl…
Episode 78: "What's That Sound?" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:07
Peter Danzig hears a disturbing banging sound while flying his Bonanza A36 near Paso Robles, CA, and decides to make a precautionary landing at a small private airport. After landing, he must contend with less than ideal…