129. Stuck at Full Power
20 May 2026

129. Stuck at Full Power

I Learned About Flying From That

About
In episode 129 of I Learned About Flying from That, host Carl Valeri sits down with pilot Christy De La Torre and flight instructor Mac Bradley to unpack a routine instructional flight that quickly escalated into a real-world emergency.

During a cross-country check ride preparation flight from Wiley Post to Wichita Falls, Texas, Christy and Mac were practicing pattern work when a critical mechanical failure occurred. After a touch-and-go landing, Christy attempted to pull the throttle back, only to discover the throttle cable had completely severed—leaving their aircraft's engine stuck operating at full power.