I think when you’re in that “killing zone” a great idea would be to start watching a bunch of aviation accident footage to instill that fear/reverence into the back of your mind again. As a truck driver, seeing videos about accidents definitely keeps me in check (though I can only handle so many).

I had a student ask me "Why will you take the DA40 out in the mountains at night but you won't take the 172M?" and it's for all of the exact reasons you listed. I have synthetic vision, TAWS, redundant GPS systems, redundant instruments, redundant radios, and a number of other redundancies, safety features and quality of life features that help me feel confident enough to take that airplane out over the Rockies at night. The 172M has it's same avionics from 1975. It has no power source for a device like a stratus or ADS-B or SiriusXM. Its service ceiling is about 1,000 feet below the peaks I fly near. There's a million reasons. That was a great definition of the killing zone.

Your little monologue at the end IS WHY I watch your Channel. I've watched ALL your videos from the first to now for that exact reason. You know how to CONSTANTLY improve on your skills and you see it in every episode. Keep it up and God Bless... okay add TEXAS!

Josh, your description of "The Killing Zone" was spot on. You described perfectly why there are so many GA fatal crashes. And I wouldn't presume to know how to change a person's mindset concerning such poor judgement. You have flown your way to maturity and understanding that in a heart beat how dangerous things can become. Your preflight instructions to yourself really helps those that might not be at your level understand things they may not be thinking about.

Fascinating seeing my own arc as a private pilot in this excellent and honest video Josh. I'm a UK based instrument rated pilot with about 1500 hours now but back in the early 2000s I used to take my young family from London to, for example, Italy (in stages!!) over (or rather through) the Alps in my 172 without thinking about it - like you I had no terrain awareness, no ADSB, no datalink weather or Stormscope, JPI engine monitor or anything. Just a terrifying amount of (over) confidence. Now I fly a very well-equipped 182 with all the extras and I am very cautious - but alive. I still do big European trips like the UK to Crete (an utterly amazing experience, especially over the Greek islands in the Aegean) but with far more awareness and, dare I say, humility than before. It's all part of the journey, not just of flying but of life. So keep up the great work. Your videos are among the very best on You Tube (as a longstanding ex BBC documentary producer I cannot believe how you make everything both cinematic and instructional and you do it all yourself. All power to you!)

I survived a night CFIT accident. Eight years later it still haunts me. Would love to tell the story on KZfaq with your help.

Great Video Josh. I’ve been following you on KZfaq for 7 years now. One of my best KZfaqrs. Thanks for keeping the fire burning in me.

The Killing Zone is a good book. I read it a few years ago. I think that the area of TX that you and I live in is a little easier to fly in at night due to IH10 and IH35 but East and West TX has a black hole or two in it, so does the Panhandle, and even down by the coast. I was doing steep turns north of Port O'Conner a few years ago and when the heading got close to east the hazy sky and water came together. I had to get on the gauges just to get through the turn. I hadn't done that in 2 decades but the training kicked in. I told the CFI what happened. I fly out of FMN now (just flew a C172RG, N9991B, to CNY and back yesterday) and I haven't flown at night yet (after being here over 3 years). I am planning to fly to Sedona next Saturday morning, just because I want to. The next flight will be dual and at night, probably down to ABQ. It's a good time to be a GA pilot. When I started there were sectionals to keep up with (and they weren't much value flying at night imho), later on Jepps... now we just need an iPad, a subscription. and self awareness. You and Chelsea compliment each other. I'm glad that you two met.

Beautiful. I flew from Yuma, AZ to Las Vegas, back to PHX at night. Starlight night just beautiful.

Wow, another gorgeous video Josh! It's also really great to see all the new avionics upgrades, in action, and in detail ...very nice! Nicely done, congrats!

I remember my first attempt at a long cross country. I blasted out of Knoxville in a C-152 Heavy, doing just like you did, following I-40 towards the Cumberland ridge... about half-way there departure killed my radar service, and I was all alone under a broken layer... and the closer I got to the ridge, the smaller the gap between the top of the ridge and the bottom of the cloud looked. Yeahhhhhhhh, no. "Knoxville, 343, we'd like to come back to Tyson." The tech these days is six kinds of amazing, and you can do things you'd never have dreamt of even ten years ago - Vegas to Kingman at night in a Skyhawk, RNAV LPV down to 200', semi-live weather radar (with the caveats! frankly I'd just as soon stay clear of the CB's period; I lost a friend to them _on the ground), TAWS on your iPAD, and real soon now we're gonna have synthetic-vision-augmented approaches... it's just nuts... I just hope that with the hi-zoot get-there apps there's even more emphasis on using one's superior judgement to stay out of situations which require superior skill and instrumentation. (Truth be told, while you can do a lot of neat things with a full-glass panel? I'm always thinking, what if my electrics go completely tango uniform? I want some old-school vacuum and steam gauges somewhere on the panel so I can get down safely when the electrons hit the fan.... ) Thanks for being one of those forces for telling folks when not to go!

Glad to see you're both doing well and enjoying your time in my old stomping grounds... I sure miss those mountains! Keep up the great work guys!

Great video. I’m based at North Las Vegas with my 182. I’m a pretty new pilot (just crossed 200 hrs). Night flying around here can get the nerves going. I recently flew back from Phoenix at night and did as you did. I stayed over the highway. Thanks for the effort to put up great content. Loved the video. 🤘

Great video along with some great advice on the very real dangers of being in the "killing zone" as a newly minted pilot. Thinking back on my own experiences as a new pilot, notably doing the very things you described, I could not agree with you more. Thank you for your efforts in helping to make us all better pilots.

Awesome video, Josh! Thank you for your efforts to educate all pilots on aviation safety. I personally believe you have saved countless lives. Keep up the great work!

Excellent video and a very well-conveyed reminder of the need to stay sharp and to stay smart while in the cockpit. Complacency kills, small mistakes can become big mistakes. Thanks again!

Great stuff! Your channel has come a long way since I first saw it a few years back. Keep up the great work!

Love your content, keep doing what you’re doing

As a PHX base pilot I’ve flown into Kingman many time. Don’t forget to try Prescott and Flagstaff. Also the Pima aAir Museum at Tucson is a must stop.

I haven’t flown at night for awhile! I’m just a 300 hobby pilot but I have been flying for 12 years. I like this content, it gives me things to study and brush up on. So fun to listen to how you talk on the radio. The only time I flew into class B airspace was a bad experience, but I have flown into class C several times and I like the radio work. Sometimes I feel there is so much to refresh on!

Mannnnnnn! This video is so spot on and you probably saved someone’s life by making it. I had this exact situation as a low time pilot flying my Cherokee 180 back from TX to CA. The leg from AZ to CA was a eye opening experience to say the least. You add fatigue to this scenario and it could be your last flight. I made a very smart decision to land in Palm Springs and get a room. So happy I did and was a very peaceful flight home in the morning. Thank you for all your excellent content and work on your channel my friend.

Thank you for your candor, Josh and this video.

You and your father have a really nice airplane. It’s more than capable, and a good performer. The panel is really nice too. It obviously gives you a lot of options for all kinds of missions, especially those just for fun. It would seem that you’re definitely getting recognized often.

Good to see 991 back! Love the night shots. Beautiful stuff on my screen.

Great commentary on the "killing zone" and your bit about flying through mountains with bouncy fuel gauges and some basic temp awareness hit home. Working on my commercial out of KTIW up in the PNW where there is nothing but mountains and old airplanes with the bare minimum avionics or close to it. Foreflight and thorough planning coupled with strict personal minimums has helped me keep myself in check. Cheers!

Another great video Josh. My son lives in Kingman, and works at Grand Canyon West. During "the season," he does the riverboat tours down the Colorado.

Beautiful night flying! really enjoyed this! Thank you!

I'm from Utah and try pretty hard not to fly at night other than pattern work, you forgot to mention that over the mountains/desert there is often no horizon at night, making it strictly flying by instruments. Can be very dangerous for low time or less proficient pilots.

Wow - Just great flight and prospective- I am not a pilot but have enjoyed your channel since inception, I am in my 50’s and from time to time you tech me a lesson that can relate to anything- As always safe flights to you and continue to have the time of your life -

Hi Josh. another cool video. I travelled around this area a few years ago by car (Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon) and for a Kiwi in the States, it all seemed so immense. Seeing them from the air gives a whole new perspective - especially at night. Can't wait to get back and see more. Also really enjoyed Chelsea's intro - she definitely has the same passion for aviation you do! Keep up the awesome work.

18:12 reminds me of the first time I fished a night tournament on mountain reservoir and it's pitch black running back to the dock with only garmin lake maps to guide me, it's nerve wracking trusting your equipment sometimes

Hi Josh, awesome video. I have to agree with you on all points. I'm now 63, fully current with IFR etc. I received my PPL a week after I turned 17, started X-Country straight away, then Night ratings followed by multi-engine then IFR. In those days there was no fancy stuff, just maps. Nothing like being over the blackness of Australia between Sydney and Melbourne at 11pm, trying to find the pencil you dropped. The stuff I did when I was 19-23, I look back on now and think 'why did my parents let me do it and what was I thinking. We all thought I was safe and I knew I was - I knew it all. One thing I don't miss although I'm glad I learnt at a time when all we had were paper maps. Workload much much higher, doing the navigation and fuel calculations (using an E6B) as well as providing position fixes while keeping ahead of the aircraft, then do it at night! There were no options, this is how it was done. We all seemed to get through it and it does become easier. Now when I fly, I have so much free mental capacity that keeping ahead and being prepared for what could happen is so much easier.

So glad I went immediately from getting my PPL to getting IFR and now close to CSEL, the killing zone was certainly there, but I'm sure it was reduced by the great influx of training, experience, and overall building of situational awareness. Always a great video man, you're a great role model!

Profound insights. Love your channel. Thank you.

Excellent video as always! Wonderful views and a great message!!

Great content. I’m learning a lot from you and I appreciate it.

Always enjoy your videos Josh, but I particularly like the message tied to this one. I flew that route a few years ago and can attest to the blackhole effect when flying out towards the Hoover Dam. You can not see the mountains right in front of you. Matter of fact I didn't really see them until the return trip to North Vegas airport with the aid of the Vegas Strip lighting. Beautiful area to fly in. Keep up the great work!

Awesome video man! You guys keep up the great work!

Wow, 10 years! I was probably watching. Anyway, another great video! Wonderful views, editing, music! Perfect content. Thanks.

Great video. I'll definitely show this to my students. Also, welcome to my hometown! Most beautiful city from the air.

@Aviation101 Josh, thank you for making this video. I watch from intro to outro and try to absorb all I can from your mistakes so I don't fall into the traps. Hopefully i'll see ya around.

As usual an entertaining and a learning video. I was at Hoover Dam many years ago before the newer bridge was built drove on the dame on the way to the Grand Canyon. If you have not been to the Grand Canyon caves it is a must. Safe Travels.

Goodness gracious! He sure is waxing philosophical tonight... (Admitting he used to be cocky and careless - and now he's cocky and careful.) 😏

Superb as always, Josh. Your journey has been wonderful to watch. I'm your Dad's age (I think, just turned 60) and I think I waited a little too long to move into this as a hobby... Couple of false starts including some flying time in early training as a young man 17. But I have SO much fun riding with you and learning vicariously through your experiences. You make a lot of us who DREAM about the GA pilots life feel a little closer to the dream even though it's likely out of reach now (even of my bucket list. LOL) . Keep up the amazing work! I'm in the graphics and production world as ONE of my professions - so I know how long it takes you to edit these and make the finals. Well done!!

Unique video for me. Lots of great information. Thanks.

Awesome, informative video sir!!!

Great advice, great views, great plane, great people! Thanks. Glad I've found your channel or, to be correct, it found me! Looking forward to many more from you.

A truly inspired and thought-provoking video. Thank you!

always love watching your videos

Very well done/said as always to both of you. Always feel like getting back into the air after watching one of your videos :) blue skies

Beautiful sunset

really enjoy watching your videos.

I love flying in to North LV Airport @ dusk!!! It's beautiful @ sunrise too.

80991’s looking goood on the N Vegas ramp there. Would love to get a peek at Chelsea’s 150 sometime. Fly safe, both of you.

Another wonderful ‘learning moment’. Every pilot’s tolerance of risk is different. Perhaps I am more conservative than the mean average of single engine pilots but IMHO’ despite Garmin, JPI, and other cockpit resources, an engine related emergency at night in a single means only one thing, you are faced with a forced landing with the odds severely stacked against a favorable outcome. When I got my licence, a 10,000 plus hour pilot said these exact words to me, “When the sun goes down, he wants to be on the ground and not airborne in his single”. Seemed to make lot of sense at the time and still does, after all flying is all about risk management and it seems to me that an attempted landing at night, would be highly risky. Love your work.

I, for one second East Texans comment Josh. Great job of planning and also the availability of current avionics is always a plus. Thanks for sharing, not quite sure what model straight tail that was on ur left wing, but reminded me of mine. Again, thanks for sharing from KOPL.

Awesome video. I learned a few things. Thanks!

In my earlier days I flew a Mooney in the mountains in IMC at night. I picked up a bit of ice. But despite that decision, here I am. By the grace of God! I'm not sure of the exact year but it's safe to say that it was in the late 1980s so no Foreflight, no GPS, no moving map. Just mechanical HSI and a second VOR.

I was told 40yrs. Ago STAY CALM, FLY THE PLANE, and that was without modern Tech. (Steam gauges) I'm still here. 😎

josh keep doing cool videos and helping GA

Thanks, I learned something new!!! fun stuff...with remind the lights *Hey I'm here don't turn off yet or racing the lights feeling.

Excellent video with great scenery!

Great tip on using the synthetic vision in Foreflight. I never turn it on but the next time I'm up at night I'm going to give it a try ... always looking to improve my situational awareness!

Thanks so much for sharing Chelsea with us in this video…..you are already a neat young man and boy does she add to the package….don’t let her get away!

Good learning experience. I too flew a lot of VFR in questionable conditions. My plane, C-140, was not equipped with anything more than VFR radios. But, that was in the 1980s. Too many times I challenged fuel estimates that were "just enough" to get me to my destination. Safety first! Do not risk the flight if there is any risk that could prevent you from reaching your destination.

Great video, excellent content as always.

Love your videos the Alaska ones were especially beautiful.

You lucky people. I have driven 93 so many times, the section through Golden Valley from entering at the Dam end to cresting the hill down to I-40 is 51miles of purgatory. To get to our our vacation home in Scottsdale, it was easier to fly Virgin Atlantic EGKK-KLAS arriving 1pm. Collecting the rental, and driving through the desert, we could be at home by 7pm. The direct British flight to KPHX got us there no quicker as it left 5hrs later. Once past Kingman and Wickiup, the rest of the drive I love (but not at night).

As a person who flew a lot at night in mountains some of the things I would use was staying on MEAs even when not on a IFR flight plan. Stay in the pattern area until above the MEA or at least the highest obstruction and descend over the airport all the way to the pattern. Use instrument approaches and departure procedures. When going to Mammoth, Ca. I would come in from Fresno on the airway and stay at the MEA all the way to the airport then descend. Many times SoCal would "tempt" me into the Owens Valley and I would decline. I flew over mountains at night so no expense should be spared in maintaining your airplane. Is there more risk, of course. However, do you fly IFR? Is there ever fog below you? Would you ever decline a clearance if it takes you over mountains? Or fog? Engine failure is a small percentage of fatalities and twins are worse than single engine. So each pilot should weigh this for themselves and if the risk is acceptable. One of the scariest is Las Vegas since there is complex airspace AND mountains all around. I would try to find a safe way to avoid the Class B and get into North Vegas at night and I never found it. Only after getting my IFR rating did I even go into Vegas.

That approach into North Las Vegas was awesome. Pure fun. Love it.

One of your best videos ever

nice video brother,really enjoy watching them. Hope to get my ppl someday soon

Watching from UK - awesome video. I've got that Tshirt too of doing crazy things when I was young and naive. There's old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots.

Glad to see yáll again. Well done.

Josh, great advice, so many pilots here on the east coast don't get real mountain flying training. Phenom 300 pilot

I never had the confidence get my private pilots license (which is something I’ve always wanted to do since my 30’s but life and 3 kids made me tap the brakes 😉) but after watching this young man over the last few years I have that itch again. Josh’s professionalism, knowledge and clear communication skills have given me the confidence to try again. Even after watching Dan’s crash videos 😂

I just passed my private check ride because of guys like you. Great video!

Josh, It's so good to see you both out and about! The last two years have been a bit dicey. Are you really tall and is she really short, looked like beauty and the beast:) Cheers, Rik

Your comments about the "killing zone" remind my first couple of years driving semis I would drive on the ice and snow no matter how bad the road conditions were. If the road was open I would drive on it. Once I got the experience to realize how incredibly stupid I was I really found it incredible I never had an accident. When you are young and inexperienced you don't have the ability to assess the risk of what you are doing or how to mitigate that risk.

Love the night flying, just learned a bit about the triangle that borders cali./nevada shhhssss!

I just realized I've been following you longer than all videos you have posted. I seem to remember your high school prom? I also don't remember you doing dumb Shhh, you were alert and mature for your age. You have a LOT more gear now, to say the least, much of it is more advanced than was available. No doubt, you have gained a lot of experience that has heightened your awareness. Standing next to your lady, you have sprouted like a beanstalk. Always a pleasure flying with you, Josh.

Great video and its very, very relevant. It does not matter if your newly minted or an old timer. I can recall the times before Foreflight, flying with an IPAQ, connected to an external Garmin GPS and aviation software people would say....."what's that for?, you could fly into something looking at the screen!" -LOL ......... FLY SAFE!

I was in VGT 3 days before you! Sad I missed ya, flew back a 172S from VGT to AKH just outside of Charlotte NC, the views on that trip were amazing.

Josh, thank you for making these videos. This one came at the right time for me. It has inspired me to fight for my health and my medical certificate so that I can continue my training, do my first solo, and earn my private pilot. Also, I'm a San Marcos native and was training at Lockhart. I hope to cross paths sometime and maybe even fly with you once.

Thank you! very interesting and good shooting quality! Your assistant is respectful!

KVGT is where I will be starting flight training soon. Cool seeing my hometown show up on your video!

Josh, I have watched you grow in age, wisdom and maturity on your channel and this vid speaks volumes about youth. As a retired first responder and tv news videographer, my associates and I were always frustrated that our society was/ is more concerned with upsetting someone’s feelings then enlightening our youth on the reality of “ the killing zone”. Many young people stay young forever because they didn’t get taught the reality of poor decision making. This video may just help enlighten some aspiring young aviators. Blue skies and smooth landings.

I started watching your videos before I’d ever touched a real airplane and now I fly Beech 99s for Ameriflight like the one at 1:20

Bravissimi con i vostri video ci regalate degli angoli d America fantastici👍👍👍👍🥂🥂

Las Vegas is beautiful at night enjoyed your video

As an ATCO and a SAR coordinator this video is very important to give pilots awareness of night flight problems and CFIT.

That beautiful UPS MD in the background.

12:42 two aviation youtubers in the same frame. great video

One GREAT tutorial, Josh!!

If anyone wants to take a real great guided tour n go down inside of Hoover dam I highly recommend it It was a neat experience I did it on a bus tour from Las Vegas on a nice bus. Great video Josh fly safe always

Great video for any GA aviator regardless is experience.

Awesome 👍😎

Amen on night flying over the desert. I did just that flying from California to Utah about six months ago. After passing over north Las Vegas with no moon and with in seconds no horizon. And to make matter worse I did not realize the Northern California fire smoke consumed me as well. 76% of idiots like me die within 400 sec. Somehow after a failed attempt to land in Delta Utah , 1.5 hrs later i missed the mountains by 600 feet then decided to go 1.5 hrs back to Las Vegas. Right before the mountains of Las Vegas i was getting hit hard by turbulence. At The mountains of North Las Vegas I got grabbed by a wicked down draft doing 2500 + decent with air speed climbing somehow i got plane leveled out while gps yelling terrain. Now over Las Vegas there were no beautiful lights. Yep the smoke covered it to 4000 feet. Not sure to this day how a simple vfr pilot did not do a JFK JR into the desert. SO needless to say i agree about making better decisions. I HOPE this might reach someone and keep the from being stupid. O yea spatial disorientation is wicked .

You flew into my home airport! VGT north Las Vegas! Wish I was flying when you were would love to see 80991 in action!

amazing filming and editing new sub for sure which camera was she holding for the closer 4k shots of hoover dam vegas etc? honestly beautiful video man