Aviation News Talk – Pilot Stories, Safety Tips & General Aviation News: Daily Summaries Delivered

422 N249CP King Air Crash: GPS Jamming, Dark Night, and a Fatal Visual Approach + GA News

Max talks about the fatal crash of Beech C90 King Air N249CP, an air ambulance flight that departed Roswell Air Center in New Mexico shortly before midnight on May 13, 2026. The aircraft was headed for Sierra Blanca Regional Airport near Ruidoso to pick up a patient for transport to Albuquerque. It was a short flight—only about 51 nautical miles—but it ended in tragedy when the King Air struck terrain near the Capitan Mountains. Both pilots and both flight nurses were killed. The aircraft was operated by Generation Jets under Part 135 as an unscheduled fixed-wing aeromedical flight. The two medical passengers were flight nurses employed by Trans Aero Medical Services. Max emphasizes the human side of the accident: these were young professionals on a mission of mercy, people who had dedicated themselves to helping others. That makes the accident especially painful, but also especially important to study carefully. According to the preliminary report, the flight occurred in dark-night VMC with zero percent moon illumination. Max explains why that matters. In rural or mountainous terrain, a dark night can feel very much like instrument conditions, even when the weather is technically visual. There may be no visible horizon, no way to judge terrain ahead, and no meaningful outside references to confirm whether the aircraft is safely above rising ground. Pilots may be legal to fly VFR or accept a visual approach, but operationally they may need to fly with the discipline of an instrument procedure. A second major factor was GPS jamming. The report says U.S. military GPS jamming activity was taking place in the area and at the altitudes used by the accident flight. During the flight, ADS-B data that had been reporting every few seconds began reporting at roughly one-minute intervals. The crew later told Albuquerque Center they had lost GPS capability and needed a heading. Other aircraft in the area also reported GPS problems, including one pilot who appeared to have difficulty identifying or navigating to a ground-based navigation aid. Max uses this to highlight a broader issue for pilots: most of us have become deeply dependent on GPS. That dependency affects not only primary navigation but also the tools we rely on for situational awareness. Electronic flight bags, panel-mounted moving maps, terrain displays, and many terrain warning systems all depend on accurate aircraft position. If GPS is jammed or unreliable, those tools may stop working, may degrade, or may give pilots less protection than they expect. The flight was initially cleared as filed to Sierra Blanca and assigned 12,000 feet. At one point, the controller advised the crew that the aircraft was at 13,000 feet, about 1,000 feet above its assigned altitude. The pilots responded that they were correcting and had lost GPS. The controller provided headings and later began working to have the military stop the jamming. As the flight continued, the crew requested the RNAV approach, then later requested the ILS approach because of the GPS failure. But the destination presented another complication. Sierra Blanca's automated weather observation system was out of service, and the ForeFlight briefing showed no METAR and no TAF for the airport. The instrument approach procedures contained notes stating that when the local altimeter setting was not received, the procedures were not authorized. Max explains that this may have left the crew without a legal instrument approach option, even though flying an approach would have provided more structure and terrain protection than descending visually in dark-night mountainous terrain. At about 12:08 AM, while northeast of the airport, the crew reported that they had the airport area in sight and could proceed visually. The controller cleared them for a visual approach and told them they could cancel IFR in the air above 9,000 feet or after landing. Shortly afterward, the aircraft began turning southwest toward Sierra Blanca. The Capitan Mountains, rising to more than 10,000 feet, were between the aircraft and the airport. <!-- /wp:paragra

421 New Zealand Mountain Flying in a CTLS: Fiordland, Microlights, and Safety Lessons

Max talks with New Zealand pilot Keith Froude during a scenic flight in Keith's Flight Design CTLS over Fiordland, one of the most dramatic flying environments in the world. Departing from a grass runway near Lake Te Anau, they discuss CTLS operations, RAANZ microlight flying, parachute-equipped aircraft, personal flotation gear, ADS-B, electronic flight bags, and the realities of flying a light aircraft among steep mountains, lakes, fog, and changing winds. The flight becomes a real-time lesson in conservative mountain flying. Keith explains why he climbs before crossing water, why he wants altitude before entering valleys, how local wind layers and morning heating can create bumps even early in the day, and why moving maps are so valuable in terrain where valleys and peaks can quickly look alike. Max and Keith also talk about local helicopter and floatplane traffic, avoiding the busy Milford Sound environment, the Manapouri power station, glowworm caves, Lake Te Anau, and the challenges of keeping a light, slippery CTLS under control on descent and landing. It is part travel adventure, part aircraft checkout, and part safety lesson for pilots who want to understand what flying in New Zealand's Fiordland is really like. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1299NEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $949Lightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Mentioned on the ShowBuy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 Buying a new Cirrus SR20, SR22, or Vision Jet - Contact Max first! Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android. Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: <a href= "https://www.pilotlearning.com

420 Cirrus SR22T CAPS Pull: N39VF Power Loss and Parachute Drag Survival

Max talks with Troy Duck and John Von Fange about their dramatic Cirrus SR22T CAPS parachute deployment in N39VF after a power loss near Chanute, Kansas. What began as a routine flight quickly turned into an emergency when they heard a loud banging noise and lost engine power. Faced with a rapidly developing situation, they attempted to divert toward the airport, declared an emergency, and ultimately pulled the CAPS parachute. The event was unique in that they were able to user their Spyderco Manix 2 pocket knives to cut two of the parachute's Kevlar attachment harness lines from within the airplane. In this episode, Troy and John describe what happened in the cockpit, how they assessed their options, and what led them to activate the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System. They also share what happened after touchdown, when strong winds kept the parachute inflated and dragged the aircraft across the ground, creating a second phase of danger after they were already on the surface. This conversation offers valuable lessons for Cirrus pilots and all general aviation pilots about emergency decision-making, power-loss scenarios, CAPS readiness, and the importance of acting decisively before options disappear. It's a firsthand survival story with practical training value and a powerful reminder that preparation matters. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1299NEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $949Lightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Mentioned on the ShowBuy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 Spyderco Manix 2 pocket knives Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aviationnewstalk.android.aviat

419 LaGuardia Runway Collision: Why the Runway Lights Turned Off Before Impact + GA News

LaGuardia Runway Collision and the NTSB Preliminary Report Max talks about the fatal LaGuardia Airport runway collision involving Jazz Flight 646 and an ARFF fire truck responding to an emergency near Terminal B. The accident occurred at night, in rain and reduced visibility, as multiple airport rescue firefighting vehicles were moving toward an emergency scene and needed to cross Runway 4 at Taxiway D. Dr. Victor Vogel Max also gives a tribute to Dr. Victor Vogel, who recently passed away. The basic outline sounds simple: a fire truck was cleared to cross an active runway and was struck by a landing regional airliner. But the NTSB preliminary report reveals a much more complicated chain of events involving ATC communications, emergency response workload, runway status lights, ASDE-X limitations, and human factors. Truck 1 was part of a larger convoy of emergency vehicles. The tower controller cleared Jazz Flight 646 to land, then later cleared Truck 1 and company to cross Runway 4. About 20 seconds before the collision, the airplane was very low on final approach and roughly a quarter mile from the runway. Truck 1 read back the crossing clearance and began moving toward the runway. The controller then instructed Truck 1 to stop, but the truck continued accelerating and entered the runway just before impact. Why the Runway Entrance Lights Turned Off One of the most surprising details in the episode is that the runway entrance lights, or RELs, turned off just before Truck 1 entered the runway. These red in-pavement lights are part of the Runway Status Light system, which is installed at only a limited number of airports. They are designed to warn pilots and vehicle operators when it is unsafe to enter or cross a runway. At first glance, it sounds like the system failed. But Max explains that the lights apparently worked as designed. For arriving aircraft, runway entrance lights illuminate when an aircraft is approaching the runway, then extinguish at each equipped taxiway intersection a few seconds before the aircraft reaches that intersection. That timing supports ATC's use of anticipated separation, which allows controllers to issue clearances based on the expectation that required separation will exist by the time the clearance is actually used. That design may make sense when a crossing aircraft or vehicle is stopped at or near the hold-short line. But in this accident, Truck 1 was already rolling toward the runway and reached the runway edge just as the red lights extinguished. Max explains why that creates a serious human-factors trap. To a pilot or driver, red means stop. When red lights go dark, the intuitive message may be that the danger has ended. But with Runway Status Lights, dark does not mean "go." It only means the lights are no longer providing a stop warning, and an ATC clearance is still required. Why ASDE-X Did Not Alert Controllers The episode also examines why ASDE-X, the airport surface detection system, did not generate an aural or visual alert warning controllers of the conflict. The problem appears to involve the way the system detected the group of emergency vehicles. The responding vehicles were not equipped with transponders, so ASDE-X could not uniquely identify each vehicle. Multiple vehicles were intermittently detected as radar targets, but because they were close together and moving near each other, their radar returns merged and separated in a way that prevented the system from creating high-confidence tracks. At one point, the system displayed only two radar targets where there were actually seven response vehicles. Without reliable tracks for Truck 1 and the other vehicles, ASDE-X could not correlate Truck 1's movement with the landing aircraft and predict the runway conflict. <st

418 New Zealand Flying: Aero Clubs, Milford Sound, and Glowworm Caves + GA News

Max talks with Russell Ladbrook about a chance meeting in New Zealand that turned into one of the most delightful episodes of Aviation News Talk. Max was taking a glowworm cave tour when Russell noticed his Cirrus jacket, struck up a conversation, and soon realized he was talking to the host of a podcast he had followed for years. By the end of the day, the two were sitting down at the Fjordland Aero Club near Manapouri Airport for a conversation about flying in one of the most scenic and demanding parts of the world. How aero clubs keep flying affordable Russell explains that aero clubs fill a role in rural New Zealand that would often be handled by a flight school or FBO in the United States. In smaller towns, there may not be enough demand to support a traditional aviation business, so clubs become the way local flying survives. The Fjordland Aero Club has about 85 members, a hangar, and club-owned aircraft, along with privately owned airplanes brought in by members. What makes the model especially interesting is the economics. Russell says the club rents its aircraft wet for about 150 New Zealand dollars per hour, plus GST, and that includes fuel. The airplanes are microlights rather than larger certified aircraft, which helps reduce costs. Even more striking, much of the labor is donated. Club members help with maintenance, instruction, and field work. Russell himself mows the runway, and the club also earns revenue by mowing airport property and baling hay from the surrounding grass. It's a practical, community-based approach that makes flying accessible in a part of the world where a normal commercial model might fail. Flying near Milford Sound The conversation then shifts to the geography of New Zealand's South Island and the challenges of flying there. Russell describes the area around Te Anau and Manapouri as farmland on one side and steep mountains on the other, right on the edge of a huge national park. The terrain is beautiful, but it also makes aviation more demanding. ADS-B coverage can be spotty because mountains block signals, some aircraft operate without transponders, and local knowledge matters enormously. Russell gives an example of a nearby valley where 4,500 feet might provide a smooth ride while 3,500 or 5,500 feet can be rough. That local knowledge becomes even more important around Milford Sound, where tourism flying is a major part of the aviation scene. Russell says many of the flights into Milford use Cessna Caravans from Queenstown, and that it is not unusual to see dozens of aircraft lined up there. Helicopters are also everywhere, supporting sightseeing and practical work in remote terrain. Russell talks about helicopter flights into the mountains, helicopter barbecues in remote valleys, and the many ways rotary-wing aircraft are woven into daily life in the region. Weather, waterfalls, and helicopter work One of the strongest parts of the episode is Russell's description of the weather around Milford Sound. He confirms that many planned flights never happen because low clouds, wind, avalanche danger, and poor visibility can shut things down completely. He describes Milford as one of the wettest places in New Zealand and says it can receive astonishing amounts of rain, with conditions that may be dramatically different only a short distance away on the other side of the mountains. On wet days, entire mountainsides fill with temporary waterfalls, while only a few permanent waterfalls remain visible when the rain stops. Russell also explains that helicopters in New Zealand do far more than scenic flights. They recover deer, resupply backcountry huts, and haul waste out of remote wilderness areas where it would be impractical to carry supplies in and out by hand. That operational detail gives the episode a more grounded feel. This is not just a postcard version of New Zealand. It's a working aviation environment where flying is both practical and essential. Glowworm caves and an unexpected connection The final section of the episode brings the story back to where it started: the glowworm caves. Russell says his first full-time job in the mid-1980s involved both flying Cessna 172s and working as a cave guide, and that decades later he is once again guiding visitors through the same cave system. He explains that glowworms are tiny insects that live in dark, damp spaces and use light to lure prey into sticky threads. The cave tour includes a boat ride, narrow walkways, an underground waterfall, and a final passage through deep darkness where the glowworms shine overhead. Russell's description of guiding the boat through the cave is especially memorable. He compares it to a kind of cave IFR, navigating in darkness by feel and by markers on chains overhead. It's a funny comparison, but also a revealing one. The whole episode is built on that same blend of aviation mindset, local knowledge, and sense of wonder. Russell also shares his own stor

417 Cirrus SR22, Vision Jet and SR20 Design with Mike VanStaagen

416 Airline Pilot Career Path: Part 61 vs Part 141, R-ATP & Getting Hired (Jason Blair)

415 Log IFR Instrument Currency in an FAA-Approved Simulator + Redbird Factory Tour