When I started learning to fly it was because I was riding with a low-time pilot and was not comfortable with his skills. I wanted to be able to land if he fainted. After just a few lessons I was hooked. I continued my training through my private certificate and then my instrment rating. My next goal was to get my commercial certificate, and I put a deadline on getting it. I was going to finish before the year was out! I never considered that setting a goal to motivate myself could get me into serious trouble.
I Learned About Flying From That
Key Takeaways:
- Driven by an aggressive year-end goal, the author scheduled a critical flight while fatigued from a late-night party and with insufficient practice on the complex aircraft required for the check ride.
- During a practice landing in the unfamiliar Arrow aircraft, a momentary distraction combined with neglecting the landing checklist led to an accidental gear-up landing.
- The incident, though embarrassing, taught the author the invaluable lesson of prioritizing personal readiness, self-assessment, and diligent adherence to checklists above external pressures or flight schedules.
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