Flight Lines February 2005 (Volume 23, No. 1) features CPA President Bart Jones reflecting on memorable 2004 fly-ins to destinations like Bryce Canyon and West Yellowstone. The newsletter highlights the organization’s expansion from four to ten or more annual fly-ins and discusses strategies to increase membership participation, particularly among pilots without their own aircraft. The president emphasizes the importance of seat-sharing and exploring shorter day-trip options to make events more accessible to the broader membership.
The main feature article, “Concerning Learning: Better Buckley than Broken,” recounts a harrowing 1969 emergency landing by Frank Niehus as told to Dean Jaros. While piloting a Cessna 182 from Iowa back to Denver on Thanksgiving, Niehus experienced severe engine trouble—a blown piston causing abnormal oil temperature readings and engine vibration. Flying dangerously low and unable to reach help initially, he eventually connected on emergency frequency 121.5 and spotted runway lights, believing he was landing at Stapleton. He actually landed safely at Buckley Air National Guard Base, where emergency equipment met him. The story emphasizes critical lessons in preventive maintenance, emergency procedures, and the importance of realistic decision-making during crises.
Key Topics
- 2005 CPA fly-in planning and expanded trip offerings
- Increasing participation among non-aircraft-owning members
- Seat-sharing initiatives and day-trip alternatives
- Engine maintenance and mechanical failure prevention
- Emergency procedures and decision-making under stress
- Radio communication proficiency
Events & Activities
- 2004 CPA Fly-in to Red Lodge, Montana with Bear Tooth Pass excursion
- 2004 Fly-in to Bryce Canyon
- 2004 Fly-in to West Yellowstone
- Upcoming 2005 fly-in planning meeting to discuss new trip concepts
Member News
- Bart Jones — 2005 CPA President, sharing leadership vision for the upcoming year
- Lothar Kingmaller — Featured in Red Lodge fly-in photo at Bear Tooth Pass
- Frank Niehus — Pilot whose 1969 emergency landing story is highlighted as a learning example
- Dean Jaros — Documented Niehus’s emergency landing account
