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 67: Stabilator Malfunction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:20
Retired airline captain and designated pilot examiner John Blum tells the story of giving a multiengine checkride in a Piper Seneca, when a loud bang from the tail section of the aircraft derailed the flight.
Episode 66: Trouble at Mile Hi - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:58
In part 2 of this 2-part episode, we hear the continuation of a story from a backcountry pilot who was involved in an aircraft accident at Mile Hi airstrip in Idaho. The pilot explains the aftermath of the accident in de…
Episode 65: Trouble at Mile Hi - Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:24
In part 1 of this 2-part episode, we hear from a backcountry pilot who flew his Carbon Cub into Mile Hi airstrip in Idaho, and upon touchdown realized he was not decelerating as planned.
A Tribute to Richard McSpadden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:39
A message to our listeners regarding the tragic loss of our host, Richard McSpadden, and an update on the future of the "There I was..." podcast.
Episode 64: Chris and Michael Easton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:20
Father and son duo Chris and Michael Easton experience a bird strike while flying a Cirrus SR22 from Bedford, MA to New Garden Airport in PA.
Episode 63: Carl Hancock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:16
Cherokee 140 pilot Carl Hancock recalls a go-around near disaster when trying to climb in high density altitude with full flaps.
Episode 62: Lee Trotter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:49
Utah GA pilot Lee Trotter tells a story from early in his flying experience, when he got mixed up in a thunderstorm.
Episode 61: Bill Fredericks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:57
While flying in instrument conditions at night, Mooney pilot Bill Fredericks wrestles with a faulty autopilot.
Episode 60: Eric Hinson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:55
Eric Hinson, CEO of SIMCOM and former Navy pilot, experienced an engine failure immediately after takeoff in his Bonanza A36, while departing Orlando Sanford International Airport.
Episode 59: Chris Yates and Taylor Hash [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:00
When Taylor Hash, a 21-year-old student pilot flying solo, lost her nosewheel on takeoff in a Diamond DA20, an experienced pilot, Chris Yates, witnessed the event and got on the radio to coach Taylor through a safe landi…