Many aviation accidents, termed "good accidents," are directly attributable to pilots making foolish or stupid decisions, often stemming from a disregard or unawareness of inherent risks.
Examples of pilot error leading to accidents include improper IFR cancellation, attempted landings in severe weather without diversion, dangerous maneuvering flight (buzzing, aerobatics), and distracted flying.
To help pilots assess and manage risks, frameworks like PAVE (Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures), CARE (Consequences, Alternatives, Reality, External pressures), and TEAM (Transfer, Eliminate, Accept, Mitigate) have been developed, alongside numerical scoring systems and online risk evaluators.
Ultimately, while these tools provide guidance, the pilot in command holds the final responsibility for making informed go/no-go decisions and proactively managing risks to ensure flight safety.
You’ve given us a litany of accidents in which the pilots did something stupid,” pointed out one of the pilots of the Glens Falls Pilots and Owners Association to which I had just presented a program I call “Good Accidents.”
“Why do pilots do something stupid?” he asked.
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