Richard Bach: Lesson About Risk
My father crashed his airplane, yesterday. He’s alive, but seriously injured.
He hit a power line while landing at a small grass field on San Juan Island. We don’t yet know much about the conditions surrounding the accident. It may be a simple matter of pilot error, on par with backing your car into a fire hydrant while trying to park (I’ve done that– twice), or there may have been a sudden downdraft or mechanical failure that contributed to the situation. We don’t yet know.
[New Information: We were wondering how he hit the power lines when he had been told about them. It turns out that there are two sets of transmission lines at that location. He cleared the phone lines and hit the power lines. I bet he saw the phone lines and assumed those were the ones he'd been warned about. Meanwhile he was landing to the South because there was a South wind, and he would have tried to cut it close because the field slopes downward and is not very long.]
But it makes me reflect on what he has often told me about risk-taking. He enjoys taking risks, he often says, but his risks are controlled and calculated. His risk-taking is characterized by plans and backup plans. He is a safety-obsessed pilot.
Part of what he loves about flying is the harsh honesty of it. Aviation is perfectly lawful and just. A pilot who lives well by the laws of flying lives long and happy. A pilot who violates them will not remain a pilot for long. Still, a pilot cannot control every detail, so good pilots fly with humility.
That attitude about flying also permeates his life, and its one of the many gifts I have of him, and my brothers and sisters, also: We are not victims of fate, we are the authors of our lives. Yes, life will be turbulent, at times. We will have our inflight emergencies. But we prepare for them, and we take action to turn bad feelings and bad situations into something positive.
Turn everything positive. Learn from everything that happens. In this way, we are always pilots-in-command, no matter what happens.
James, what a beautiful post! You have learned well the lessons your father teaches through his life and his work, and I know that as he is always, you, too, are still learning — even through this unexpected event.
Ann
Comment by Ann Tracy Mueller — September 1, 2012 @ 10:04 pm
That couldn’t be more true. I’m always humbled when I see pilots of far greater skill and judgement than me go through something like this. Our whole family is thinking about your dad and you.
I’m encouraged by what I’ve heard so far about his condition. Thanks for keeping us posted.
Comment by Kent Wien — September 1, 2012 @ 10:06 pm
Thank you for this. Will be waiting for him to post his version on his website!
Comment by Sharon — September 1, 2012 @ 10:36 pm
I heard about your Father’s accident on LA radio this afternoon. Being married to a pilot, my ears immeditely perked up, as usual when there’s an accident. The one thing that I can always count on is that my husband is a Boy Scout when it comes to flying. It sounds like your father is, as well. But even the most cognizant pilot may come up against some circumstance that throws him or her. Part of the reason I admire my husband is that he is willing to take the risks every time he flies because he absolutely loves to fly. I can’t ask him to give that up so that I’ll feel safer, nor would I want to. It’s the risk of living that keeps us alive.
Sending good thoughts to you, your father, and your entire family.
[James' Reply: Dad has had eleven forced landings in his career, that I know of. He says an inflight emergency is not a matter of if but when, but he's prepared for them. Yes, it's the reasonable risks that often help us feel that we're truly alive.]
Comment by Sugar Jones — September 1, 2012 @ 11:20 pm
Thank you for the updates James. Your father is quite a rare gift, as you would know, and holds a unique place in many hearts, mine included.
Comment by Sally — September 1, 2012 @ 11:51 pm
Wishing your dad a speedy recovery. What I am today (at 44) is largely due to the books he wrote, Messiah’s handbook is always on my bedside… May not read them often but there are times when I just need to reach out to Illusions, or No such place as far away and read a few lines…
Comment by Swati Sani — September 2, 2012 @ 12:25 am
James, your father and his wisdom change my life in some powerful ways. And your thoughts here have given me hope and a fresh zest for life. This is quite possibly one of the best posts I have a read…
Comment by Brian Ahier — September 2, 2012 @ 12:41 am
The thing that immediately flashed into my head with this post re the lawfulness and justness of flying is what my uncle wrote in my flight training manual (never learned to fly, but was interested as a kid and he builds planes) – “there are bold pilots, and there are old pilots. but there are no bold, old pilots”. It seems kinda harsh in the current context, but I think it fits the underlying idea of the post.
Comment by Adam Goucher — September 2, 2012 @ 6:10 am
I just heard about your father’s plane accident this morning. After losing two friends in small plane crashes and having been in a forced hard landing once myself, my ears perk up when I hear anything about a small plane crash on the news. I was sad and shocked to hear the name “Richard Bach” in this news story. I know flying and having freedom are both a very important part of his life. I am sending wishes for his recovery to be able to experience these things again and to you the family as well. I think your post is very expressive and meaningful in this situation. Thank you for writing this!
Comment by Bobbi Powers — September 2, 2012 @ 10:39 am
Spirituality is the greatest illusion of all. Your father’s passion and daring are what people should relate to if they wish to break boundaries and fly.
Comment by Laurie — September 2, 2012 @ 10:41 am
I have not followed the writings of Richard but live by the inspiration of a seagull since the 70’s. Funny to read Richard takes “calculated risks”, that is how I define my adventurous side. Just recently been riding my first motorcycle, a Harley of course, and as much as I’d like to dismiss the obvious, it is a very “calculate risk” riding it, but breathes wind through my soul. I send all my prayers, good vibes & thoughts, & positive energy to Richard’s fast recovery & positive outcome and the community that has embraces him, his family, & friends. Thank you for sharing.
Comment by Ken S. Lisle — September 2, 2012 @ 10:58 am
A short while ago, I saw a piece of an interview with him. Interviewer asked, if you had to quit either flying or writing, which one would it be? He thought hard, said maybe he could do without flying but not without writing. Looking back on it, I just had a shiver from foreshadowing. Alas, this is just pareidolia: no one could possibly have guessed this fortuitous power line. I do wish he does not have to quit any of the two. All my best wishes that he be back into a cockpit, possibly Puff’s, before we can so much as blink.
Comment by Joao Paulo Cursino — September 2, 2012 @ 12:02 pm
James, thank you so much for keeping us updated on the condition of your father. I hope Richard and all of you feel the love so many of us have for him. He has blessed this world with his gifts and I am so grateful to be a long time reader/student of his.
“There’s No Such Place as Far Away” comes to mind as I type this and I look forward to further lessons from him once he’s recovered.
Comment by Carolyn — September 2, 2012 @ 1:48 pm
Sorry to hear about that. I hope your dad recovers quickly.
Perhaps a lesson to be learned about identifying a danger but mistakenly thinking we understand the full extent of the danger.
Comment by Danny Faught — September 2, 2012 @ 4:14 pm
Richard,
Millions see you as the aviator’s guru and an inspiration. PULL UP, man!
Comment by jim — September 3, 2012 @ 12:24 pm
I am hopeful for a quick and full recovery for your father. Thanks for sharing the progress. Aviation is a close knit community, all of us care about fellow flyers.
Flying can be a humbling experience but always a pleasure to break away from earthly bonds. May your father return to the air soon.
Comment by Hank Hilsmann — September 3, 2012 @ 3:51 pm
Thanks James for news about your father.
I have a great interest for the work of your father since last 35 years.
We have almost succeeding a planned meeting next month.
I send you, and to your father, the highest energy.
RL.
Quebec, CAN
Comment by RL — September 3, 2012 @ 8:18 pm
Dear James,
You spoke like his true son.
Your dad has been a guiding light for me and millions others across the globe. It is thanks to him that we are able to get over the emotional turmoils left behind by the events of our mundane life, pick up just the learning bits, and become better humans in the bargain. I am sure he will take this incidence as an opportunity to expand, and we will be gifted with a new title like – “it was always there, I didn’t see it” – (I am sure he can word it better than this !!!). I am also sure the shoulder pain will not stop him from grabbing the learning. He is a huge storehouse of knowledge gained from the bird’s-eye view of life. How-much-ever he gives back to humanity, it will never get over.
Cheer up.
Comment by Chetan — September 4, 2012 @ 2:23 am
Thanks for the update, James. A friend sent me a link to the news story. After reading the headline, as much as I wanted to feel sad for what had happened, it was difficult because I know your dad gets the big picture. And after he recovers, I’m certain he’ll say something profound that casts the whole accident in a light much different from what most people see when these things happen.
I look forward to hearing what he has to say.
Comment by Christopher Laney — September 4, 2012 @ 5:37 am
Thanks James for the latest news on your father. ICU can takes its toll on the family and it usually takes a roller coaster ride of emotional highs & lows. I’m glad your family is aware of how much the community cares about your father & family, and despite our eagerness of hearing updates on his condition, please don’t worry about “us”, family first and focusing all your energy on your dad, we’ll keep sending the good vibes. you all hang in there and hope the ride is not too bumpy.
Comment by Ken S. Lisle — September 10, 2012 @ 6:36 am
How wonderful to hear he’s out of icu, and thank you again for keeping us updated. Blessings Carolyn
[James' Reply: Well, he's been in and out and in and out. Right now he's back in. It really doesn't look good. I think he's trying to die. I support that, because I want him to be happy.]
Comment by Carolyn — September 11, 2012 @ 4:58 pm
James, it has been awhile since I’ve checked status, just learned about Richard being out of the hospital earlier this week. I wish you & your family strength to continue on this journey, knowing the change from hospital walls to a familiar environment will brighten the mood. Sending good thoughts to you, and thank you to everyone able to provide status when they can, understanding how demanding it can be when you have other priorities or just don’t have the strength to do anything else.
godspeed, ksl
Comment by Ken S. Lisle — November 17, 2012 @ 2:03 am
I was appalled to read the reply to the last comment where you mention he’s trying to die.. And though you must support hm for reasons of your own, I find it difficult even impossible to imagine a world without Richard Bach.. Once not too long ago, I’d written to him after deciding to die and he replied with a letter which changed my life. Richard Bach is a truly great man and I owe him so much of my present happiness.. I do believe his adventures are not yet over on this planet and there’s much more he’s learned from all of this and could share with the rest of us.. My heartfelt prayers and wishes for his speedy recovery.
[James' Reply: At the moment, he's alive and as far as I know he's getting stronger. He doesn't wish to have much contact with his kids, right now (he goes through phases like that) so I don't have much information except that his ex-wife keeps firing nurses.]
Comment by Sneha — January 11, 2013 @ 2:06 am