ET's Info-Stew

My first attempt to fly the Cessna 172 solo in the pattern didn't go as planned. When I got at the airport at 9:00 AM the wind were 170 at 7. Not only is that more than a 5 knot crosswind but it is a bit of a tailwind. Nick told me to wait because the wind usually whips back around more favorably for runways 28. Sure enough at 9:50 AM the wind sock turned around and a few minutes later the ATIS said the winds were 270 at 5. So I got the go-ahead from Nick and off I went.

During the run-up I saw the the oil pressure was on the top of the green arc. I made a note of that and went about my business. During climbout when I had a chance to look I noticed that my oil pressure was well above the green arc, and I quickly made the decision to land. I pulled back the throttle keeping enough so that I could gently climb to TPA while keeping the oil pressure as low as I could. I was in a left pattern for runway 28L so I asked tower to let me land on 28R. I was cleared to do so, but I botched the approach. I had way too much speed and altitude so I executed a go-around.

The controller told me to make left traffic for 28L so I complied and after I was cleared for the option on 28L, I made a sucky landing. I only logged 0.3 hours and only got in one landing. I put a note in large print on the squawk board indicating the problem and left.

I recognized the conflict that I had within my head. On the one hand, continuing to fly the plane would be dangerous. But on the other hand, I wanted to fly. I'm proud I made the right decision as pilot-in-command.