Every year we worry that the NTSB accident reports won’t provide us with tales of pilots unencumbered by forethought. Every year, our fears are allayed.
Stupid Pilot Tricks
As the holiday season gives way to the interminable darkness of winter, we pause in our discontent to honor, ridicule and learn from those pilots whove slipped the surly bonds of reason and, once again, slapped the face of God-knows-what foolishness.
Key Takeaways:
- Many non-fatal accidents in 2008 were attributed to basic pilot errors, including fuel mismanagement (e.g., running out of gas, contaminated fuel) and neglecting pre-flight checks.
- Pilots frequently demonstrated poor airmanship and situational awareness, leading to hard landings, runway loss of control, and collisions with terrain or obstacles.
- Dangerous and ill-advised practices, such as improper hand-propping (sometimes with unqualified personnel), distracted taxiing, and flying at dangerously low altitudes, contributed to numerous incidents.
- Poor decision-making under stress or panic, like attempting landings on insufficient runways or failing to execute timely go-arounds, often escalated challenging situations into accidents.
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