Originally Posted by GauleyPilot

It is a tragedy to loose a freind in a crash. I have lost several. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

While I have never flown anyting bigger than a light jet, I can say I have found it very strange to go back into 172 type flying.

Just because I have safely landed a 172 in a 20kt plus crosswind in 1997 doesn't mean that I would be great at trying to do it now.

There are professional pilots flying single engines all over the world in professional conditions. I shouldn't commercially fly a tundra-tire Cessna185 into a riverbed in Alaska right now. Neither should that bush pilot fly into TEB on Monday at 9am in my Premier.