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* Rep. David Winters flies a plane to Springfield most session weeks.

But this week’s flight was out of the ordinary. The plane’s alternator literally fell apart during Winters’ flight, knocking out all electrical power. He was left with no radio, no altimeter, no navigation system, no flaps and no way to pump fuel from the alternative gas tank when the main tank almost ran out of gas.

Oops.

Winters explains what happened next…

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 11:50 am

Comments

Glad Rep. Winters is OK. But there has to be an analogy for the budget situation in there somewhere. Something blows up, you have no fuel left, and limited options….

Comment by Really?? Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 11:58 am
“Comin’ In on a Wing and a Prayer” Harold Adamson (1943).

Comment by If It Walks Like a Duck... Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 12:15 pm
I’ll drive virtually any distance before I fly. The instinct to stay on the ground only gets stronger as I get older.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 12:42 pm
I should feel bad for him, but then I remember his resolution demanding that he be allowed to bypass security in a state office building. He is pompus and maybe this was God’s way of reminding him that he is just a human.

Comment by bored on 1 Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 1:08 pm
One lucky skillful guy who kept his head on straight during an emergency!

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 1:33 pm
Rich, love these personal interviews–once again, you are ahead of the curve in making this place and those of us who work in and around it feel like a family (dysfunctional, of course)..kudos to you and your technology, your creativity and your abundant energy to pull it all off every single day!

Comment by capitolfax fan Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 1:42 pm
Happy he can afford this mode of transportation.
Be interesting to see what make and model of car our legislators drive on a daily basis.

Comment by Hmmmm Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 3:13 pm
Winters drives a beater. i guess in both plane and car, huh

Comment by Get Real Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 3:20 pm
Rich: Maybe you can do more “humanizing our legislators” portraits. They get ripped a lot on this blog, but they are human beings. And they are mostly good people.

Comment by Legaleagle Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 4:40 pm
Nice interview, Rich.

For the uninformed and jealous, a 1969 2-seat single engine prop aircraft in good running condition can be bought for about the same amount of money as a new 3/4 ton pickup truck. This is not Richie Rich’s private jet by any means.

Were AA Winters, I would spring for a battery-powered backup GPS and portable backup radio; less than a grand and less headaches when the primary stuff goes kaput.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 4:59 pm
great story!

Comment by one to the dome Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 8:40 pm
glad he is ok but I like his stories about buzzing the river near peoria and landing with no lights except for the headlights of his wife’s car at the landing strip!!

Comment by litmus Thursday, Jul 16, 09 @ 9:25 pm
Way to go, Dad!

Comment by DaughterOfDave Sunday, Jul 19, 09 @ 6:38 pm