Straighten Up and Fly Right

This is a talk I gave in church, May 10, 2015.

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I would like to talk today about a few of the most basic doctrines of the gospel. I would like to talk about something that is very personal and very private to me, that has been on my mind for the past several weeks. I would like to speak about the reasons my father lost his life.

In late March, 1982, when I was 13, my father and 5 other people boarded a small plane in El Paso, Texas en route to Salt Lake City, Utah. My mother was supposed to go on the trip but didn't, as she had just started a job to help make ends meet. During the flight they encountered bad weather and the plane crashed in New Mexico.

Two quick doctrines and an observation. First of all, I have had etched in my soul a strong testimony of the resurrection and the eternal nature of families. I know I will see my father again. Because of the atonement of Christ, each of us will be resurrected.

Secondly, Even though I miss my father and desire his company, I know that I am not disadvantaged in my own progression because of his passing. My exaltation depends on the choices I make. Because of the atonement of Christ, everyone will be judged for their own sins.

Even though this was a tragedy, my life has been blessed by it. My parents will never get divorced. They will never have any disagreements. My father will never get old and have to bear the vicissitudes of age. And I have felt my father’s help and interest in my life several times.

That is about all I knew about the crash until a few weeks ago, when I had the prompting or thought to dig a little. The internet didn’t exist back then. I wondered what I could find online about the crash. It wasn’t hard to find. This brief paragraph is the official record of the crash.

The pilot was advised of the icing conditions three different times during his weather briefing.  At 3:24pm while enroute, the pilot was told by other pilots of light to moderate icing between 14,000 and 22,000 feet. Pilot replied that was about what he had been getting. From 3:48 to 3:59 there were several transmissions between the pilot and air traffic control relative to inflight icing conditions in the area. 10 minutes later the pilot requested a climb. 4 minutes later pilot reported he was unable to maintain altitude. Wreckage was spotted the following day 300 feet below a 9600 foot peak in the San Mateo mountains. Aircraft was not certified for flight into known icing conditions nor was it equipped for such flying. The aircraft’s weight was computed to be an estimated 392 pounds over max gross weight at takeoff.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

• Flight into known adverse weather. Intentional. Pilot in command.
• Overconfidence in personal ability. Pilot in command.
• Overconfidence in aircraft’s ability. Pilot in command.

Upon reading that summary I became upset at pilot - why didn’t you turn around? The tower was telling you to turn around. Other pilots were telling you to turn around. Even you had talked about the danger. Everyone around you was telling you it wasn’t safe. Why didn’t you turn around?

• Perhaps the pilot had been in lots of similar situations before and he was calloused to the danger.
• Perhaps he thought that other pilots had made it through, as so he could also - even though they were flying better equipped planes.
• Perhaps he didn’t trust the tower, or the other pilots. That it was only when he saw the danger himself, and it was too late, did he believe them.
• Perhaps he was going to turn around if it got a little worse
• Perhaps he had boasted of his aircraft’s abilities, and was worried the others would laugh at him if he turned around at the first sign of weather.
• Perhaps he was afraid the passengers be mad with him if they didn’t get home on time.
• Perhaps there was a pressing event that required his presence
• Perhaps the passengers determined that they were adults and could do what they wanted. They weren’t going to harm anyone but themselves.
• Perhaps cost was an issue. Perhaps the group didn’t want to spend money on hotels for one more night.
• Perhaps they said a prayer for safety before they left, so God would protect them despite all of the warnings.

Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter now.

Matthew 23:37

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Another way to say “turn around” is “repent.”  What reluctance do we have to repent?

As I have thought about the story, there are several lessons I learn about sin and repentance that I want my children to understand. I want them to know the story about why Grandpa Jay died.

#1 - The pilot had overconfidence in his abilities and ignored the warnings. Many have drifted into the storms of pornography, drugs, debt, intellectualism without faith, etc, with the excuses

• It’s not bad. Quit judging.
• It’s not going to hurt me.
• It’s only going to hurt me.
• It’s my life. Don’t tell me what to do.
• I can quit anytime I want.
• It doesn’t affect me.

#2 - Peril came quickly. It only took 15 minutes for the pilot to go from feeling he was safe to being unable to control the aircraft.  “And others he will pacify and lull into a carnal security.“

#3 - The icing conditions began at 14000 feet. They crashed at 9300, which means they were out of the ice, but the effects of having been in the ice continued with them. Leaving the sin behind is not enough. We need to repent. Parents can help us repent. And when our wings are really iced up, we need the help of the bishop.  

#4 - The safety board calculated they were 400 pounds over max weight for the aircraft. There were 6 adults cramped in the 6 seat airplane - each with luggage full of souvenirs from their trip. Perhaps this extra baggage they had picked up along the way contributed to the unresponsiveness of the aircraft. They crashed 300 feet from the top of the mountain. Perhaps if they weren’t trying to do so much, they wouldn’t have fallen so fast. Are we carrying unnecessary baggage that is keeping us from the lift we need? Are we trying to do too much?

We are all pilots trying to make it back home. All of us have different skill levels flying planes of varying capabilities. Yet, we all have a control tower sending us messages, helping us along the way. We have other pilots sharing their own reports and experiences to help us make better decisions.

President Hinckley admonished, “Try a little harder to be a little better.”   

Repeating the saviors lament, which could be the lament of the control tower.

How OFT I would have gathered you.

How oft I would have GATHERED you.  

How oft I would have gathered YOU.

Alma 5:37

“O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are puffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray, as sheep having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling after you, but ye will not hearken unto his voice!”

Turn around. Repent. Your soul is precious. Jesus savior, pilot me.

LDS Hymn #104

As a mother stills her child Thou canst hush the ocean wild

Boisterous waves obey they will when thou sayst to them “Be still.”

Wondrous sovereign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.