Captain Brian Schiff
Presenter and Instructor
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No Plan, No Out: When Night Flying Goes Dark
Earn WINGS Credit What is WINGS?
More from The Schiff Show · Episode 19
Proudly sponsored by Avemco Insurance Company
- Presenter: Captain Brian Schiff with Chris Baur
- Organization: The Schiff Show · Episode 19
- Date:
- Duration: 1h 30m
Captain Brian Schiff and Chris Baur, CEO of Hughes Aerospace, dissect a Cessna 172's collision with terrain on a night flight in a 300-foot ceiling. The young private pilot had no flight plan, clearance or real way out. They show how procedures, stick-and-rudder technique and cockpit technology could have prevented it.
Chapters & program details from theschiffshow.tv
Chapters 15
- 0:00 Avemco message and WINGS credit
- 3:00 Meet guest Chris Baur of Hughes Aerospace
- 5:40 The free FAA Safety Briefing magazine
- 12:40 Accident review: Cessna 172 crash near Cleveland, TX
- 17:20 In the pilot's shoes: pressure to make the annual
- 21:00 Why some airports have no instrument approach
- 31:00 Reading minima: LPV, LNAV and circling lines
- 34:40 Alternates, fuel and when to divert
- 44:00 Scenario: pressure to deliver parts in bad weather
- 48:00 Helicopters, inadvertent IMC and 56 seconds
- 56:20 Scud running and the Kobe Bryant crash
- 59:40 Video: feeling the pressure to fly
- 1:11:00 Tech tips: lighting NOTAMs in ForeFlight
- 1:17:40 Trivia: how many definitions of night?
- 1:26:20 Final thoughts and WINGS reminder
About This Course
THE SCHIFF SHOW Episode 19 – “NO PLAN, NO OUT: When Night Flying Goes Dark”
Hosted by renowned pilot and aviation expert CAPTAIN BRIAN SCHIFF
Flying safely begins with thinking smartly. In this gripping episode of THE SCHIFF SHOW, renowned aviator Captain Brian Schiff is joined by Chris Baur, CEO of Hughes Aerospace Corporation.
A night flight, a 300‑foot ceiling, four miles in mist—and a young private pilot pressing on without a flight plan, clearance, or a real “out.” In this episode of THE SCHIFF SHOW, we dissect a Cessna 172’s collision with terrain and show how smart procedures, solid stick‑and‑rudder techniques, and today’s cockpit technology could have turned a near‑tragedy into a non‑event. Join us to see exactly where this flight went off the rails—and how to ensure your next night launch doesn’t become someone else’s accident report.
Key Learning Objectives
- How one missing step in preflight planning turned “legal” into “lethal risk” in a matter of minutes.
- The simple stick‑and‑rudder technique that can save your life when you lose the horizon at low altitude.
- The underused cockpit tech that would have given this pilot an escape route instead of a rescue.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Schiff Show is a monthly aviation education variety show hosted by Brian Schiff and sponsored by AVEMCO. It is offered for FAA WINGS credit. Brian will discuss a specific theme across five program segments on the second Thursday of each month. The themes will be chosen from a hit list of common accident causes. Each episode will be one hour long and focus on a particular causal accident factor, and will include the following segments:
- Accident Review
- Procedures
- Techniques
- Technology Tips and Tricks
- Game Time - WIN PRIZES!
Registration is not required. Go to TheSchiffShow.tv at 7:00 PM Central Time on the second Thursday of the month and join the show. All episodes are archived on TheSchiffShow.tv and available to watch (for WINGS credit) anytime after the original air time. (NOTE: you must be watching live to participate in the game show portion.)
The Schiff Show promises to be an hour well spent, which will fly by while you have fun and learn to be a safer pilot.
Course Resources 11
COURSE RESOURCES for "NO PLAN, NO OUT: When Night Flying Goes Dark"
TO ACCESS EACH RESOURCE - CLICK ON THE RELATED LINK BELOW
- 6R3 RNAV(GPS)RWY16 Chart PDF
- Airplane Flying Handbook - Night Flying PDF
- FAA Safety Briefing Magazine MarApr2026 PDF
- Night Definitions PDF
- NTSB Factual Report CEN23LA097 PDF
- NTSB Final Report CEN23LA097 PDF
- Personal Minimums Checklist PDF
- Personal Minimums Worksheet PDF
- SOS It's OK to Stay_POSTER PDF
- TSS 9 Web Links PDF
- FAA WINGS MANUAL PDF
Presenter
Chris Baur
CEO Hughes Aerospace Corporation
WINGS Credit Details / Flight Review
SINGLE WINGS CREDIT
Click below to access the course quiz and earn immediate WINGS Credit
CLICK HERE to go to the WINGS Quiz
Step 1 - Login to your FAASafety WINGS account
Step 2- Take Quiz - Receive Immediate WINGS Credit
If you are not registered on the FAASafety website you may do so below
CLICK HERE to register on the FAA Safety website
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FLIGHT REVIEW / PHASE OF WINGS
The contents of this program can be used to complete a flight review.
A WINGS based flight review helps assure both student and instructor that a complete and well documented flight review in category and class of aircraft has been accomplished.
CLICK HERE to access a copy of the Theme Based TSS #19 Flight Review and Phase of WINGS Guide
About Avemco
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Not all aircraft insurance policies and premiums are the same. As the only direct writer in the market, Avemco never uses third-party insurance agents and instead, connects you directly with an aviation underwriter in their Frederick, Maryland office ready to solve problems and approve coverage based on what you fly and how you fly it. Avemco provides lightning-fast quotes, competitive rates, and personalized policies that are easy to read and tailored to you. Call 800-276-5199 for your free quote or visit avemco.com/theschiffshow. Don’t forget to tell them you’re a Schiff Show subscriber and save 5%!
Avemco Insurance Company never works with third-party insurance agents or brokers and believes you’re better off going right to the source instead of through a middleman. We connect you with an aviation underwriter ready to answer your questions and personalize coverage based on what you fly and how you fly it. So, unless you reach out to them yourself, you’ll never experience the Avemco advantage of going direct. Listeners of The Schiff Show save 5% and are eligible for even more savings through the Avemco Safety Rewards Program. Call 800-276-5199 for a free quote or visit avemco.com/schiffshow today.
For decades, Avemco Insurance Company has been an advocate for pilot safety by promoting and sponsoring continuous pilot training and learning. One of their initiatives has been to reward pilots who actively participate in being more proficient with savings on their insurance premium through the Avemco Safety Rewards Program. Safe pilots save by earning new ratings, getting recurrent training, participating in the FAASTeam WINGS Program, and listening to safety podcasts like ours and other Avemco-recognized courses and training. Call 800-276-5199 for a free quote or visit here today - OWNERS / NON-OWNERS Don’t forget to tell them The Schiff Show sent you for an automatic 5% off!
The Schiff Show Archives
CLICK HERE to view past presentations and earn WINGS Credit!
