Have you gotten up in the morning to face the day just to find out that the day has turned around and there is no way to get in front of it to face it? Yes, I'm sure you have been there. Well, the 25th of October was one of those days.
I had made several flights that day and was now heading out to Achken, a small one-way strip about 40 minutes away. There were more flights scheduled for the afternoon—a pregnant woman in trouble and another patient who was very sick and dehydrated. The 40 minute flight was nice and smooth as there had not been any wind to speak of so far that day. As I got to Achken I circled twice over the strip to check on its condition, the winds, direction and speed. Everything looked and felt great so I started in on my approach.
Just as I was on very short final I got blasted by a very strong, left-quartering tailwind and knew I was in big trouble. (Lots of my pilot friends here have lost planes to such winds.) With no way to safely go-around from short final on this airstrip, I landed the plane knowing there wouldn't be sufficient runway remaining to get stopped. However it was the only safe option I had, so I worked hard to get the plane as slow as possible before the strip ran out. The winds kept pushing me hard, and as I went off the end of the strip there was a log that took off the nose wheel, flipping the plane onto its back. I pray before starting out on any flight and now as I was sliding along upside down
I was asking God why He allowed the devil to hurt the plane. "Why Lord? Why after so many years working to get a better and safer plane are You allowing it to be hurt?"
The aircraft stopped and the three passengers and I crawled out. No one had a scratch on them. "Thank You, God," I prayed, "but why?" Then I checked for the wind. It was calm; the wind was all gone! I looked the plane over quickly to make sure there wasn't a chance of fire, and then crawled back inside to get the aircraft papers.
When I looked up the others had left and I was alone with the bird. So I just sat there talking to God with so many thoughts and questions running through my mind. "What about all those who so desperately need the help of this plane? What will they do now? It's Your plane and so why did You let the devil blast us with that wind from the rear right at that moment? One minute sooner or later and I would have been able to land just fine, but why right then? Why?"
Finally I went up to the village and asked to use the radio, only to be told that it was a ways up river. However, there was a satellite phone just across the river in the mines which I could use. Imagine that. Out in the middle of nowhere there was a phone that worked! I was able to call a pilot friend of mine, who flew into a strip downriver to pick me up. Thursday night I was back in my own bed.
The whole Gran Savanna is saddened, because this plane is their life-line to help. During the next few days I continued asking God, "Why?"
He answered, "It is My plane and I protected all of you." So, I can't tell you why, only that I am in God's hands, and whatever God allows to happen to me and the work here there is a reason for it and I have to trust Him.
The plane is repairable. And in a week or two after all the inspectors finish their reports we will be able to start the long process of taking it apart and transporting it to the shop in Ciudad Bolivar for repair. In the mean time we are getting close to having the 172 back in the air again and we'll keep going.
Thanks for all your prayers and I ask that you will keep praying for us here as we keep moving forward. The devil is trying to stop us. He knows how much good we are doing and doesn't like it one bit, but our God is a powerful, awesome God and He is still in control.
Bob & Neiba