In Episode 378 of Aviation News Talk, Max Trescott continues the conversation around engine-out emergencies, building on the analysis presented in Episode 372, which examined the fatal crash of a Bonanza B35B (N2UZ) near Charlottesville, Virginia. This episode generated more listener email than any other recent episode, and Max shares many of those responses—read by Aviation News Talk’s resident intern, Kelly—with thoughtful commentary and added technical insight.
Max opens the show by reviewing the crash of N2UZ. The pilot, flying from North Carolina to the northeast, experienced engine failure at 7,500 feet. Though he got to best glide speed quickly and contacted Charlottesville Tower, he ultimately overshot a 3,000-foot-long field and crashed into trees. The airport was just outside his gliding range. Max highlights decisions that might have changed the outcome—such as requesting flight following, cruising at a higher altitude, or planning a route that always remained within gliding distance of airports. He reiterates his call for EFB apps like ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot to help pilots create safer, altitude-aware routes during preflight planning.
Kelly reads a series of insightful listener emails. Karen Larson, a 787 airline pilot and Carbon Cub owner, describes how she and her husband discussed Max’s episode prior to ferrying a T6 to Houston. During the return flight, the T6 suffered a power loss over Austin. Thanks to their discussion and prompt action, they safely landed at a nearby private airpark. Karen credits the podcast for influencing that successful outcome.
David Dismore, working on his Commercial certificate in an SR20, writes about the value of practicing power-off 180s to a landing spot. Max agrees that such maneuvers are beneficial but warns against combining them with no-flap landings during practice. He points out that power-off 180s are usually practiced from predictable pattern positions, whereas engine failures in cruise often occur at high altitudes, making energy management and terrain assessment more challenging. Max advocates for practicing engine-out glides from altitude to better simulate real-world emergencies.
Listener Nico Ghilardi echoes this sentiment. He shares how he practices gliding to airports from cruise altitude without touching the throttle again—a more realistic and challenging version of a power-off landing. Nico suggests that aerobatic training might also help improve energy management skills. Max agrees and notes that most types of training likely contribute to overall pilot improvement.
Daniel Switkin contributes a timely caution. He references a video from AOPA that tested the glide range features of three EFB apps in three aircraft—and in each case, the aircraft failed to reach the runway, despite what the glide rings suggested. Max hadn’t seen the video but thanks Daniel for flagging it and makes it the podcast’s “Video of the Week.” He encourages pilots to test their own glide rings during practice flights, rather than trusting them uncritically during emergencies.
Carter Boswell writes with a question about the aerodynamic differences between a windmilling and a stopped propeller during engine-out flight. Max draws on a detailed article by Peter Garrison, who explains that the answer isn’t simple: in some cases, a stopped prop may create more drag than a windmilling one, especially at high speeds. Garrison recommends pulling the prop to coarse pitch and leaving the throttle open, based on his testing. Max also consults Tom Turner of the American Bonanza Society, who estimates that stopping the prop might reduce the descent rate by a few hundred feet per minute—but no definitive data exists.
Finally, Kelly reads an email from Bozzie Boswell in Australia, who introduces Max to an app called AvPlan EFB. Unlike some U.S. apps, AvPlan offers an “Airport Glide Range” overlay in its flight planning mode. This shows shaded glide circles around airports based on planned altitude, aircraft glide ratio, and forecast wind—making it easier to plan routes that stay within gliding distance of a runway. Bozzie, who flies in remote areas of Australia, emphasizes that this feature gives him greater peace of mind in terrain where emergency options are few.
Max dives into the details of AvPlan’s pricing and features, comparing it to ForeFlight and praising its glide ring planning tools. He reiterates his hope that more flight planning apps will adopt similar tools to improve safety for general aviation pilots.
Throughout the episode, Max emphasizes how real-world preparation—like practicing realistic glides, using flight following, and planning routes with terrain and glide range in mind—can make the difference between a safe outcome and a tragedy in engine-out situations. Listener stories and questions add valuable perspectives, showing how shared knowledge in the aviation community continues to make flying safer for everyone.
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