A Sentimental Journey: Cross-Country to Piper Memorial Airport

June 15, 2010

We left shortly after 1000 EDT from Mountain City, TN for our first fly-in at Lock Haven, PA. With all our gear packed and weight & balance checked, we took off at a gross weight of 1195 pounds.

We had originally planned to refuel at Summerville Airport, WV; but I had called earlier to find out that they did not carry fuel anymore at this time. So we stretch this leg to the next cheapest source.

Our first leg was a long one, 2.5 hours to Braxton Co. Airport (48I), WV for 9.8 gallons of 100LL for $4 a gallon. No problems, other than a steep approach due to I wasn’t going to miss the runway and I wasn’t going around with the low fuel condition. It was a very hazy day for most of our trip.

Our next leg was more challenging. We refueled fast and took a few pictures but hurried along as the weather forecast was for storms to build later in the day. We were only 5nm from our next planned stop of Garrett Co Airport (2G4), MD when I heard on their AWOS that the visibility was down to 50’. I’m looking out in front of the airplane and just can’t believe it as I can see greater than 3 miles. I’m already planning for the worse and looking at optional airports to divert to. But all of the sudden the ceiling is coming down and we find ourselves looking at a wall of clouds and I make an immediate 180 degree course reversal turn.

We are suddenly scud running through the valleys of the Allegany Mountains. I have several options from prior planning. Dawson AAF which will result in us getting delayed and pinned down to the concrete after arrival, an off airport landing on some nice fields that I surveyed earlier, or try and make it over to the next ridge where I see daylight on the other side and navigate to Hardy Connellsville Airport (VVS), PA. We decide on the later and proceed to clearer skies.

Kathy is real good at following our progress on the sectionals when our route is drawn on it and I stay on it, but when we diverted off course she is totally lost. One of her questions was what is this illuminated cross on the sectional as I had her looking for higher terrain and towers at our current altitude. I did not have an answer for her at the time. The picture to the left is what we saw as we made it into clear skies and through the last ridge to safety.

We land safely at Connellsville, PA and refuel and mull over options and if we’ll be able to make Lock Haven by tonight. The FBO says we can stay and camp. They even say there is plenty of room to put our airplane in the hangar. After looking at the weather with a helicopter outfit’s computer located on the field, I decide we can navigate the weather by going further North and then East.

It wasn’t the easiest journey and we had to scud run once more crossing over the TYRONE VOR by a few hundred feet into clearer skies, but what a beautiful sight on the other side as I say to Kathy, “Why couldn’t the rest of the weather be like this.

We had planned to refuel at Bellefonte Airport (N96) because we were getting low, but it was closed when we arrived. I don’t like to push the fuel range. I might have gotten pull into the “Get There Itis”, but looked at our fuel and made a decision that we had enough to make Lock Haven with the weather being severe clear.