EP165 - The Killing Zone Returns: Why 50-350 Hours Are Still the Most Dangerous

EP165 - The Killing Zone Returns: Why 50-350 Hours Are Still the Most Dangerous

Aviation legend, educator, instructor, and author Dr. Paul Craig joins the gang to discuss the highly anticipated third edition of The Killing Zone - the book that's basically scripture for midlife pilots everywhere.

With new publisher ASA, Paul's back with fresh data from 12,406 general aviation accidents proving that yes, the 50-350 hour zone still has significantly higher accident rates.

We dive deep into his data-driven approach to accident analysis, explore how technology is creating pilot-induced distractions like GoPro fiddling and selfie-taking, and discover why mental health conversations have finally evolved beyond just "pilot stress." Paul explains how HIMS AMEs are changing the game for pilots needing help, and why scenario-based training beats practicing basketball fundamentals all day.

Whether you're climbing Mount Stupid or think you've conquered it, Paul reminds us that every flight is different and deserves your full attention. Plus, hear his scariest moment involving recruiting football players, hydraulic failure, and emergency gear extension that sounded like the airplane was coming apart.

Featuring abnormal contact with the ground, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving accident curse, and why Paul never tells ATC how an approach will terminate.


Mentioned on the show:

* ASA, The Killing Zone third edition: https://asa2fly.com/the-killing-zone-softcover/

* Wingnuts Aviation, M91 Springfield Tenn: https://wingnutsaviation.net/

* About ASA: https://asa2fly.com/about-us/

* The Vegas Bravo Buster on VASAviation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUSUXnr4dSo

* New York Times Presents 'Lie to Fly': https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/NYT-Presents/lie-to-fly-joseph-emerson-pilot.html

* AOPA, Mike Busch, Quantifying Maintenance Risk: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2025/november/pilot/savvy-maintenance-opinion-quantifying-maintenance-risk

* Scarpazza, Quantifying the Risk of Accidents and Serious Incidents Due to Maintenance in General Aviation: https://www.savvyaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Risks-of-maintenance-to-GA.pdf

* Paul Craig, Flight Times: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1685642306


Visit www.midlifepilotpodcast.com to support the show, get merch, and download the free 23 page PDF "The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Midlife Pilot".

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Episoder(203)

EP204 - What Is Landings?

EP204 - What Is Landings?

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27 Okt 1h 4min

EP203 - Pause Not Included

EP203 - Pause Not Included

Last week's emergency deserves a sequel about the thing you reach for in the later phases of one: the checklist. Enter returning special friend of the show Checkmate Barry, two years to the day (Octob...

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EP202 - Declared Mercy

EP202 - Declared Mercy

Ryan and Jackie flew the beautiful RV-10 down for the EP200 hangar show. On the way home, the airplane had other plans: autopilot master fault, attitude indicator misbehaving in IMC, showing level whi...

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EP201 - The Last Five Seconds of a Landing

EP201 - The Last Five Seconds of a Landing

The Discord kept circling one subject, and it happens to be printed on our favorite t-shirt: I forget how to land (or have never learned in the first place). So this one's all landings: the plateau, t...

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EP200 - It Took You Long Enough

EP200 - It Took You Long Enough

Two hundred episodes, and this one comes with a studio audience: live from a hangar at McCollum Field, at a non-event event. "Come if you want, come as you are," and people came anyway, some from very...

29 Sep 54min

EP199 - No Longer Sport Pilot Extraordinaire

EP199 - No Longer Sport Pilot Extraordinaire

Eleven minutes of "we're keeping it a mystery," and then out with it: our friend Timestamp Tedder went and passed his private pilot checkride. "No longer sport pilot extraordinaire." Theoretically he ...

22 Sep 1h 1min

EP198 - How Dare You Try to Minimize My Suffering

EP198 - How Dare You Try to Minimize My Suffering

Ted has a private pilot checkride on the calendar, so naturally the crew dedicated the evening to helping him prepare. And by helping, we mean: "You may not be nervous at all for the checkride. But yo...

15 Sep 1h 6min

EP197 - I Just Passed My PPL at 1,005 Hours

EP197 - I Just Passed My PPL at 1,005 Hours

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