An Epitaph for an Aviator

[CChambliss]

Said just before an accident:
**We don't do things that way here**
**That procedure doesn't apply to us**
**It looks OK to me**
**I think it will be alright**
**It's VFR today anyway**
**We'll get a late takeoff if we wait to have it fixed**
**They didn't write it up on the last flight**
**You do the inside, I'll do a quick walk around**
**Don't sweat the details**
**2500 hours, I don't need the checklist anymore**
**It'll be close, but we can make it**
**I haven't had much time to hit the books**
**Don't sweat it, this bird can take it**
**We've got plenty of fuel left**
**If I wore all that survival gear I would really be uncomfortable in the cockpit**
**We'd never get done if we did everything the book says**

OK, WHAT CAN WE SAY TO THE BOARD?
***The weather was supposed to come up***
***The tower told me to expedite***
***But I've done that thousands of times***
***I didn't have time to finish the checklist***
***We've never done that before and we've never lost one***
***Uh...Handbook change? I don't think I saw it***
***I was sure we could make it***

Not every sin or ommission will lead to death, destruction, and/or removal of assorted body parts. In fact, many are never even detected by anyone outside the aircraft and the majority of those that are frequently result in not much more than mild embarrassment, maybe some remedial training, or occasionally an adverse career impact action. But does anyone really want any of this? Lets all be careful, be safe, follow the rules, regulations, and procedures and not become trapped by PILOT ERROR.

Cliff A. Chambliss
Instructor Pilot
Safety Officer
Aviation Safety Counselor
Maxwell AFB Flight Training Center
Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
(US Army Retired)
_________________
Cliff A. Chambliss

FOR MAXIMUM ATTENTION IT'S HARD TO BEAT A GOOD BIG MISTAKE.