The document identifies 12 classic accident pitfalls for pilots: responding to peer pressure, mental expectancy, get-there-it-is, duck under syndrome, scud running, continuing VFR into IMC, getting behind the aircraft, loss of positional/situational awareness, operating without sufficient fuel reserves, descent below minimums en route, flying outside the envelope, and neglect of flight planning, checks, and pre-flights. Each pitfall is defined and an example accident scenario provided. The document aims to help pilots identify and avoid dangerous situations.

1. 12 Classic
Accident Pitfalls

2. Nick Mayhew -
Mike Phillips -

3. Objectives
• Identify 12 classic accident
pitfalls.
• Define what is dangerous.
• Give real examples.
• How do we do it safely?

4. #1 Classic Pitfall
Responding to peer pressure.
G-CRST, A109, Central London 16 January 2013
#1 Classic Pitfall
Responding to Peer Pressure.

5. #1 Classic Pitfall
Responding to peer pressure.
G-CRST, A109, Central London 16 January 201
Responding to Peer Pressure
This is poor decision making
based upon emotional responses
to peers rather than evaluating a
situation objectively.

6. 16 January 2013

7. Central London
En route for
passenger pick
up

8. G-CRST, A109, Central London 16 January 2013

9. #2 Classic Pitfall
Mental Expectancy.

10. Mental Expectancy
The inability to recognize and cope with
changes in a situation different than
that anticipated or planned. Visual
illusions and similar aural sounds
occurring at the “wrong” time often
lead to such miscues.

11. #1 Classic Pitfall
Responding to peer pressure.
Map
G-CRST, A109, Central London 16 January 2013
10 December 1993

12. Sightseeing Flight
14 NM SE of airport
Flagstaff, AZ

14. #3 Classic Pitfall
Get-there-it-is.

15. Get-There-It-Is
This “disease,” 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
courses of action.

16. 21 June 1985

17. Ship to Shore
Resupply Mission
Near Tayport, UK

19. #4 Classic Pitfall
Duck Under Syndrome.

20. 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 an unwillingness to
admit defeat and shoot a missed
approach.

21. 27 September 2008

22. HEMS Patient Transfer
3.2 NM North of Andrews AFB

24. #5 Classic Pitfall
Scud Running.

25. 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.

26. 26 December 2011

27. The aircraft departed Mayo Clinic
on a medical transport mission
and impacted terrain 17 minutes
later.

29. #6 Classic Pitfall
Continuing VFR into IMC.

30. Continuing VFR Into IMC
The all-to-often result of the practice of
scud running when this becomes the
only alternative to flying into the
ground. It is even more dangerous if
the pilot is not instrument qualified or is
unwilling to believe what the
instruments are indicating.

31. 27 July 2013

32. Planned
Route of
Flight
Passenger Drop
Off Flight
Noxen, PA

34. #7 Classic Pitfall
Getting Behind The Aircraft.

35. Getting Behind The Aircraft
Allowing events or the situation to
control your actions rather than
the other way around. This is
characterized by a constant state
of surprise at what happens next.

37. #8 Classic Pitfall
Loss of Positional/Situational
Awareness.

38. Loss of Positional/Situational Awareness
Another case of “getting behind the
aircraft” which results in not knowing
where you are, and an inability to
recognize deteriorating circumstances
and/or the misjudgment of the rate of
deterioration.

39. 28 May 2012

40. Platform ST67B
Gulf of Mexico
Passenger Pickup

42. #9 Classic Pitfall
Operating Without Sufficient Fuel
Reserves.

43. Operating Without Sufficient Fuel Reserves
Ignoring minimum fuel reserve
requirements under either Visual Flight
rules or Instrument Flight Rules. This is
generally the result overconfidence, a
lack of flight planning, or deliberately
ignoring the regulations.

44. 6 August 2011

45. Mosby, MO
HEMS Patient
Transfer
Planned Route
Of Flight

47. #10 Classic Pitfall
Descent Below Minimum Enroute
Altitude.

48. Descent Below Minimum Enroute Altitude
The duck-under syndrome
(mentioned earlier) manifesting
itself during the en route portion
of an Instrument Flight Rules
operation.

49. 22 April 1994

50. Planned Track
Actual Track
HEMS Patient Transfer
Bluefield WV

52. #11 Classic Pitfall
Flying Outside the Envelope.

53. Flying Outside the Envelope
Unjustified reliance on the (usually
mistaken) belief that the aircraft’s high
performance capabilities meet the
demands imposed by the pilot’s (usually
overestimated) high performance flying
skills.

54. 4 May 2000

55. Blanding, UT
Seismic Survey

57. #12 Classic Pitfall
Neglect of Flt Planning, Checks,
Pre-Flights, Etc.

58. Neglect of Flt Planning, Checks, Pre-Flights, Etc.
Unjustified reliance on the pilot’s
(usually overestimated) short and
long term memory of regular
flying skills, of repetitive and
familiar routes, etc.

59. 9 June 2009

60. Search and
Rescue Mission
near Santa Fe,
NM

62. 12 Classic Pitfalls - Summary
• Responding to peer pressure.
• Mental expectancy.
• Get-there-it is.
• Duck Under Syndrome.
• Scud Running.
• Continuing VFR into IMC.
• Getting Behind The Aircraft.
• Loss of Positional/Situational Awareness.
• Operating Without Sufficient Fuel Reserves
• Descent Below Minimums En Route.
• Flying Outside The Envelope.
• Neglect of Flt Planning, Checks, Pre Flights etc.

63. Questions and Discussion