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Dangerous
pilot tendencies or behaviour patterns that often set the stage for tragedy
The table below list twelve (12) dangerous pilot tendencies or
behaviour patterns that often set the stage for tragedy. The
sad thing is that we often are unaware that we are under the
influence of these behaviour patterns.
Cut and paste the below table somewhere on your instrument panel or
on your knee board. Review each listed behaviour pattern
before commencing any flight. Be objective. Ask yourself
if you are being influenced by any of these behaviour patterns.
If you are, STOP! Analyze your situation. Think through
what you are about to do and WHY.
Ask yourself, is it worth the risk? If not, alter your
behaviour in accordance with more sensible thinking. Do what
you need to do to correct whatever dangerous behaviour pattern(s) is
influencing your flight. The sooner you do this, the better
your chances for a safe and pleasant flight.
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Peer Pressure |
Poor decision
making based upon emotional response to peers rather than evaluating a
situation objectively. |
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Mind Set |
The inability to
recognize and cope with changes in the situation different from
those anticipated or planned. |
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Get-There-Itis |
This tendency,
common among pilots, clouds the vision and impairs judgment by
causing a fixation on the original goal or destination combined with
a total disregard for any alternative course of action. |
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Duck-Under
Syndrome |
The tendency to
sneak a peek by descending below minimums during an approach.
Based on a belief that there is always a built-in "fudge" factor
that can be used or on an unwillingness to admit defeat and shoot a
missed approach. |
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Scud Running |
Pushing the
capabilities of the pilot and the aircraft to the limits by trying
to maintain visual contact with the terrain while trying to avoid
physical contact with it. This attitude is characterized by the old
pilot's joke: "If it's too bad to go IFR, we'll go VFR." |
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VFR into IMC
Conditions |
Continuing visual
flight rules (VFR) into instrument conditions often leads to spatial
disorientation or collision with ground/obstacles. It is even
more dangerous if the pilot is not instrument qualified or current. |
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Getting Behind
the Aircraft |
Allowing events
or the situation to control your actions rather than the other way
around. Characterized by a constant state of surprise at what
happens next. |
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Loss of
Positional or Situation Awareness |
Another case of
getting behind the aircraft which results in not knowing where you
are, an inability to recognize deteriorating circumstances, and/or
the misjudgment of the rate of deterioration. |
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Operating Without
Adequate Fuel Reserves |
Ignoring
minimum fuel reserve requirements, either VFR or Instrument
Flight Rules (IFR), is generally the result of overconfidence, lack
of flight planning, or ignoring the regulations. |
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Descent Below the
Minimum Enroute Altitude |
The duck-under
syndrome (mentioned above) manifesting itself during the en route
portion of an IFR flight. |
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Flying Outside
the Envelope |
Unjustified
reliance on the (usually mistaken) belief that the aircraft's high
performance capability meets the demands imposed by the pilot's
(usually overestimated) flying skills. |
Neglect of Flight
Planning, Preflight Inspections,
Checklists, Etc. |
Unjustified
reliance on the pilot's short and long term memory, regular flying
skills, repetitive and familiar routes, etc. |
