RE: Signal "shadows"
I got waaay out one time...and learned my lesson, though it didnt cost me a plane, just a 10 minute walk...
I was probably 800-1000 feet away when what little sound i could hear of the engine stopped. I was upwind too...i had some altitude...but not enough to glide back, i just kept it pointed into the wind, got into a glide slope that looked about right...and just held the sticks there...after a 10 minute walk, the only damage was my nosewheel.
Never again will i do that...i really dont know why I did it in the first place...just wasnt really thinking about it. Luckily, we fly at an airfield, so we have a LONG LONG LONG runway (~2500 feet ive heard...but i dont knwo the real number) It felt like a mile to the plane...and back was worse...