Flight 66
01-27-97

(LONG SOLO XC)

C-172
TEB-OWD-ALB-TEB

5.4 solo
3 landings

"Long XC; pilotage; dead reck; radio comm (incl flight following & flight watch); normal/shrt to&lndngs; landings at 2 unfam. airports; use of carb heat in cruise; x-wind landing"

[Another missing entry, but I remember the highlights of my first really long trip]

Very cold weather, clear but some frontal activity NW as usual. Did very well with my navigation across the unfamiliar expanse of Connecticut to Norwood, just outside Boston.
Made considerable use of Flight Following and Flight Watch- they were helpful and easy to deal with.

Bucked a gusty headwind as I flew west towards Albany, right over snow-covered Mt. Greylock in the NW corner of Massachusetts.

Encountered pretty marginal VMC approaching Albany from the SE... I remember Tower requesting I report the runway in sight, and it took longer than I expected to see it.

Made a good landing there,topped off the tanks, drained my tank, and got the weather at Signature there.
 I recall stopping abruptly on the taxiway on my way out of Albany because I did not remember being cleared specifically to cross the inactive runway. Tower saw me do this, and assured me it was OK to just continue.

Followed the river most of the way home from there, in better weather although quite cold, and just north of the GW Bridge, at about 2000 MSL and cruise power setting, the power began to drop off. Checked the throttle position, mixture, and mags, then quickly slapped on the carb heat.

Didn't bother looking for a place to put her down, because abeam the Palisades near the west bank, there ain't any place except the icy river. Not a pleasant prospect. It was a long minute or so as the engine slacked of even more, initially...

The carb heat seemed to do the trick,though,  and a few nervous minutes later all seemed well. Returned to TEB without incident, and one of the instructors, upon hearing my tale, asked me why I didn't descend into warmer air when I noticed the carb ice (if that's what it was). I just blinked at him... didn't he hear I was already at 2000? besides, it was freezing all the way to the water...

At any rate, it was a proud day for me- I survived my required long X-C, with carb ice yet!