Always Expect Worse: Overpowering Downdraft, Strong Headwind, Low Fuel, System Failure
Sandia Mountains viewed from the west. Credit: Reduced version of photo by Dicklyon - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 If Murphy had been knowledgeable about aviation, he would have strengthened his law and said: "It will go wrong." All of the bad events described below happened during just one trip from Dallas to Flagstaff, AZ and back. Overpowering Downdraft We are en route from Dallas to Albuquerque, NM. After a refueling stop in Plainview in the Texas panhandle, we encounter a strong headwind. We try to minimize the effect by flying 1,000 ft AGL (above ground level). The wind becomes stronger as we approach the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque. See the above photo, which shows the mountains from the west. We need to climb at least to 2,000 ft AGL to avoid mountain-induced turbulence. Due to the headwind, we make little forward progress, while the headwind cascading down the east side of the mountain pushes us down. We have never seen such a strong combined effect during our nume