When you think about it, the rules applying to non-commercial, Part 91 flying are very lenient. We can take off when we want, go pretty much where we want, and don’t need to talk to anyone unless the weather or the location demands it. Still, that’s not enough for some pilots, who perhaps think their skill, experience or immediate needs outweigh the need to comply with even minimal requirements.
Rules regarding instrument flight, airspace and preflight preparation exist because hard-won experience has shown they make sense, even if they require only minimal actions to ensure safety. Ignoring some of these basic rules isn’t a wise choice if we want a long and uneventful career in the air. And every now and then, an accident record comes along to remind us of what can happen when do.
