AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2025 - 110

TIPS FROM PIC
Guarding
against
complacency
BY PATRICK TIMMERMAN
M ER R I A M - W EB S T ER d e f i n e s
complacency as " self-satisfation
especially when accompanied by
unawareness of actual dangers or
deficiencies. " This can be deadly in aviation,
and we must be on guard for it.
When pilots become too comfortable
or overconfident, they risk overlooking
critical procedures and potential hazards.
This sense of complacency often
results from repeated successful flights,
routine operations, or an overreliance
on technology.
An example of this happened to me
some years ago. Around 2:15 a.m. on
August 11, 2006, I was a passenger on a
Piper Cherokee Six that made an off-airport
landing because of fuel exhaustion.
The pilot, in a rush, mistakenly selected
an almost empty fuel tank prior to takeoff.
He also disregarded the checklist,
as he had made this flight many times
already that evening and early morning.
Complacency had set in.
Upon landing, we struck a limestone
outcropping at about 75 mph. I
was seated next to the pilot, and unfortunately,
this airplane did not have
shoulder harnesses installed. I along
with the pilot and five other passengers
all suffered serious injuries that night.
Amazingly there were no fatalities.
Training and adherence to standard
operating procedures are essential
in combatting complacency. Regular
drills, ongoing education, and the use
of checklists ensure that pilots remain
sharp and prepared. Moreover, a culture
of safety, where questioning and
continuous improvement are encouraged,
helps mitigate the risks associated
with complacency. You can reach
AOPA's Pilot Information Center at
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) or pilotassist@aopa.org
for more information.
Patrick Timmerman is a senior aviation
technical specialist with the AOPA Pilot
Information Center.
110
AOPA PILOT / March 2025
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AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2025

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