This is an interesting story that I thought I'd share with everybody. Initially, I started typing it in the CFI corner, but in the end I decided that everybody could benefit from this.
A couple of days ago, Lindsey and I were briefing a local Instrument flight, with approaches at several local (within 20 miles) airpports. Well, after a little discussion, we both decided that the winds offered us the perfect opportunity to go up and practice some crosswind landings (270@14, Gusting to 20), with runway 2/20. So, off we go!!
Well, after a normal man up and launch we were setting up for what we both thought was going to be a perfect landing. Lindsey was doing everything by the book, good X-wind correction on the downwind, everything that I expected somebody with her training to be (hey, can a guy plug himself for a minute??
).
Just as we're turning base-to-final, I couldn't help to notice a huge herd of deer in some enpty fields just north of the airport. I'm talking 18-20 animals in one tiny area! As I looked around, there were even more! Lindsey was completely oblivious to all of that, though.
So, as we're about 200 feet AGL, I mumbled, "Would you look at all of those deer down there", and instantly we're climbing! Lindsey performed a perfect go-around! Now, I'm thinking to myself, "Maybe she saw something I didn't", and I decided that we'd discuss it on the ground, until I remembered that I'd mentioned the deer. Then it hit me: The only time she's probably heard the word "deer" in the cockpit is when I was giving her the textbook "deer on the runway".
I actually went home and thought about this quite a bit. Those trigger mechanisms can be pretty powerful!