Lack Of Peer Pressure

When I was a student pilot, I was lucky to have some grizzled mentors. There were a lot of do this and dont do that admonitions, a lot of tips regarding shortcuts and rules of thumb, plus some sage advice about decision-making. A lot of that advice could be broken down into the old Its better to be on the ground wishing you in the air than to be in the air wishing you were on the ground genre, but it was often accompanied by a Let me tell you what I learned the hard way kind of introduction.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The article emphasizes the importance of thorough peer review in preflight planning, where experienced pilots challenge decisions and highlight consequences, contrasting with casual advice that can minimize risks.
A fatal Cessna 172 accident illustrates the dangers of a non-instrument-rated pilot continuing VFR into dark night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) over mountainous terrain, exacerbated by inadequate preflight weather planning and poor decision-making.
The NTSB determined the accident cause was controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) due to the pilot's decision to fly VFR into IMC, highlighting the critical need for proper preflight planning and terrain familiarization, especially for night flights.
To avoid CFIT, particularly at night, the NTSB recommends meticulous preflight planning, understanding terrain, adopting IFR-like practices for VFR flights over mountains, and not relying solely on ATC for terrain warnings.

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When I was a student pilot, I was lucky to have some grizzled mentors. There were a lot of “do this” and “don’t do that” admonitions, a lot of tips regarding shortcuts and rules of thumb, plus some sage advice about decision-making. A lot of that advice could be broken down into the old “It’s better to be on the ground wishing you in the air than to be in the air wishing you were on the ground” genre, but it was often accompanied by a “Let me tell you what I learned the hard way” kind of introduction.

Later, as I gained experience, other pilots began treating me more as a peer than someone who needed additional knowledge. Looking back, it’s obvious the methodology changed: Once I became something of a peer to other pilots, the questions I might be asked about a planned flight became more detailed and focused on the consequences of my decisions and actions.