The first time I had a real emergency, I was surprised at how quickly and without emotion I went through the emergency procedures. It wasn't until after we had landed that I totally fell apart. I got out of the plane and "did" kiss the ground (my knees buckled, I had no choice! Just kidding, but my legs were a little wobbly!)

I was flying a single engine plane and the engine quit. We were close to an airport but not close enough that if I didn't get the engine restarted that we could not have landed on the runway. We would have landed in Walden's Pond near Concord, MA!

Fortunately, I did get the engine restarted.

A fuel line had broken and the engine quit due to fuel starvation. The type of aircraft I was flying had two fuel tanks, one in each wing. The way the fuel system was designed the fuel lines "t"ed before the entered the carburetor so I was able to switch fuel tanks, prime the engine, and get it restarted all before the plane dropped like a falling rock the 700 feet we were above ground!

It was pretty scary.

And then there was the plane crash I was in....I was not flying, I was the "pilot-rated, rear seat passenger" in a two seat airplane.

That's why we go through rigorous emergency procedures training during our training before we get our license and every time we have a re check! It's good practice for that one time that you really really need it. It comes natural.

Every time I fly, I go over the emergency procedures checklist.

http://www.jimpitman.us/checkride.wmv
Here's the video of the Pixar checkride I was telling you about! It's hilarious!!

oh yeah !!

I was in a Cessna 152 and the engine caught fire over the coastal range on the San Francisco Peninsula, above San Andreas Lake.

I was 13, and in the copilot seat, my dad was the pilot.

Dad went into some automatic mode, and brought us safely down at San Carlos Airport.

I was surprised to find I didn't pee my pants, and yes, I KISSED the tarmac.