Surviving a Plane Crash That Killed the Pilot

Surviving a Plane Crash That Killed the Pilot

Author: Francis Tapon May 24, 2024 Duration: 22:06

Glen Van Peski sat in the co-pilot seat of a tiny plane that crashed, killing the pilot next to him. What happened?


How did Glen and all the other passengers survive with minor or moderate injuries?


We talk a lot about death in this episode, including how Glen's mom and son died.


We end on a positive note!


Watch the Video
About Glen

Glen Van Peski is a civil engineer who used his skills to engineer the lightest backpacking gear in the Solar System. Glen is the founder of Gossamer Gear.


In 2024, he released Take Less, Do More: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude, and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker.


In this interview series, Glen shares snippets of his book. The final episode is a flashback episode of Glen and Francis recording themselves chatting while hiking up San Francisco's historic Sweeney Ridge.


Bonus video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QivSPWiKfU 


Join the exclusive WanderLearn Patreon club.


More about Glen Van Peski


Glen Van Peski, founder of Gossamer Gear, is known for his legendary contributions to the backpacking community. A native Californian, Van Peski grew up in the western outdoors, and when his oldest son joined Scouts, he led the troop’s backpacking program. Through those experiences, he became intrigued by lightweight backpacking. He started sewing his gear and eventually started his own company, manufacturing ultralight backpacking equipment. Glen and his company have been featured in Backpacker, Outside, National Geographic Adventure magazines, and the New York Times.

Van Peski is an internationally sought-after speaker known for his inspiring, humorous, and information-packed presentations. He has hiked most of the Pacific Crest Trail, wandered the backcountry in Japan and Europe, and bike-packed on the Great Divide. He lives in Bend, Oregon, with Francie, his wife of over forty years, and is the father of two grown sons.

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon


You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.



If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 


On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:



My Patrons sponsored this show!


Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon


Rewards start at just $2/month!


Affiliate links

Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!


In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken


Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!


For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.



Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

There's a certain kind of travel that changes you, not just your location. It’s the slow, immersive kind where the journey itself becomes the teacher. In WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life, Francis Tapon acts as your guide into this world, exploring how leaving familiar ground can fundamentally reshape your perspective. This isn't about quick tips or itineraries; it's about the deeper conversations that happen at the crossroads of culture, society, and personal growth. Each episode delves into how we engage with places and people, often weaving in discussions about the role of modern technology in both enabling and complicating these profound experiences. You'll hear stories and insights that challenge the conventional tourist mindset, pushing toward a more thoughtful, engaged way of moving through the world. Francis draws from a wealth of experience to discuss concepts like vagabonding and deep travel, making the case that the greatest souvenirs aren't trinkets, but transformed thoughts. Tuning into this podcast feels like sitting down with a well-traveled friend who understands that the real destination is often a shift within yourself. It’s for anyone who believes that travel, at its best, is a powerful catalyst for learning and living differently.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life
Podcast Episodes
I Ate Durian: the fruit that smells like sh*t [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48
Durian is recognized for its overpowering and foul odor, often described as similar to feces.I decided to try it and record my reaction.See the video!Have you ever attempted to eat durian or smelled its distinctive aroma…
You're Wrong! You CAN compare X with Y! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21
I attack the expression that says, "You can't compare...." About 99% of the time, you CAN compare anything with anything.You may dislike the comparison or believe the two things are vastly different, but that doesn't mea…
Ege's Dad Was Killed When She Was 5. How To Forgive? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:02
Forgive me for rushing through this interview. We were under time pressure. But if you would like, send me a message encouraging me to interview Ege Riitsalu again in greater depth.In this episode, Ege Riitsalu shares he…
Radical Forgiveness Therapy with Ege Riiitsalu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:43
How do you get out of a rut and onto a ridge? Although my book, Hike Your Own Hike, offers ideas, it doesn't discuss radical forgiveness, which can lead to breakthroughs. Watch the VideoIn my first TEDx Talk, I discussed…
Is Voting for a Third-Party Candidate Throwing Away Your Vote? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:10
Who you vote for in the 2024 US Presidential election matters little if you don't live in Maine, Nebraska, or a battleground state. If you want to be highly pedantic and annoying, you could argue that your vote matters e…
Following Sunshine with Niamh McAnally [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:25
Niamh McAnally's memoir, Following Sunshine: A Voyage Around the Mind, Around the World, Around the Heart, offers readers a rich tapestry of travel, personal growth, and introspection.This book transcends the typical tra…
Snow Kiting Across Greenland + 4 First Ascents with Eric Gilbertson! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:55
Eric Gilbertson is back!Eric Gilbertson and Branden Joy dragged 400 pounds (180 kg) of gear on 4 sleds across Greenland.They covered 1,539 miles (1,420 snow kiting, 119 man hauling) in 40 days.On his biggest day, he cove…
2 K2 & Everest Climbers Swap Mountain Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:06
Everyone loves coincidences. During my month in Estonia, I bumbled into Krisli Melesk, who bumbled into Eric Gilbertson on K2. Eric & I were scheduled to record a podcast a few days after I met Krisli, so I invited her t…
Talking with a Dane About Greenland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:43
Palle Bo is from Denmark, which controls Greenland. He's been to Greenland twice, and I was blessed to visit it in 2024. We share our thoughts.Palle hosts the Radio Vagabond podcast! Subscribe to it!Enjoy other Palle Bo…