Sometime in the 80s, my grandfather - an avid amateur pilot - had to make an emergency landing flying from Olympia, WA to Wichita, KS. He had a Cessna and a Piper. I don't remember which one he was flying at the time. I think it was the Cessna but my brother says it was the Piper. Neither of us has any idea what model either of them were.

Somewhere over western Kansas, he ran into trouble and had to bring her down. As he explained it, "It's the wings that'll get you. One of those hits the ground, that'll flip you end-over-end." He flew between two trees in a windbreak. I'm sure you know, those long, single lines of Cottonwoods common on rural farms. He sheared both wings right off simultaneously, and the fuselage bounced along a freshly plowed field until it came to a stop. He walked away without a bruise or a scratch.

My brother and I were talking about this recently and I thought this sub might be interested. Maybe it's common knowledge to do something like this? I'm not a pilot so I've no idea, but I'd be interested to know.