Navigating the 'Scariest Moment' as an Aircraft Owner

When purchasing one’s first aircraft, buyers often spend little to no time evaluating their checklists and flows.

Jason McDowell

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

Most aircraft buyers painstakingly evaluate and analyze every mechanical aspect of their new-to-them aircraft. But sometimes, old, outdated, and obsolete checklists are accepted and utilized without much thought. [Courtesy: Jason McDowell]

Key Takeaways:

The author recounts a critical in-flight emergency as a renter (a smoldering electrical switch) and subsequent near-misses as a new aircraft owner (incorrect flap setting and carb heat left on during takeoff).
The ownership incidents were directly attributed to an inherited, poorly designed checklist that combined run-up and before-takeoff procedures, leading to crucial steps being overlooked.
To prevent future errors, the author implemented a dedicated, memorized five-item pre-takeoff flow to be performed immediately before advancing the throttle.
The article emphasizes that new aircraft owners should critically evaluate and customize their checklists and operational flows, ideally with an experienced instructor, rather than blindly trusting existing ones, to enhance safety.

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As a pilot transitions from aircraft renter to owner, several significant changes occur. Most notably, their savings account—once a lush wonderland of excess funds and interest—becomes a financial wasteland rivaling the most bleak postapocalyptic films ever created. Similarly, their mental catalog of “scariest moments” begins to revolve more around the results of annual inspections than any situation in the air.

That said, scary moments in flight indeed still occur.