9 Top Flight Safety Principles I Gleaned From 5 Decades in the Sky

9 Top Flight Safety Principles

9 Top Flight Safety Principles

Author Steve Wightman with the PT6 Powered G900X Super Seawind He Built

How The First Fatal Accident Experience Changed My Life and My Concept of Flight Safety.

The first aircraft accident I had an experience with happened 51 years ago while I was serving in the U.S. Army overseas. It was a serious safety lapse. My classmate Dale had recently graduated ground school and continued his private pilot training with flight lessons at Albrook, AFB in the then Panama Canal Zone. The afternoon sun dogged in and out of passing clouds reflected on Dale’s blond hair as he greeted his instructor, army staff sergeant John. They reviewed the flight plan. It would be a local flight, Dale’s third, staying in the Albrook flight pattern to practice take offs and landings.

Preflight checks of the J-3 Piper Cub were good and with no airport traffic, they were soon in the sky. Minutes later the little yellow Cub turned base to final, stalled, crashed and burned. Dale died instantly. John sustained 3^rd degree burns over most of his body and was shipped to Brook Army Medical in Texas. I never learned of his fate. This event shook me to my core. For the rest of my flying days beyond being an army crew chief and repairman, much later becoming an airplane pilot, I was always vigilant and keenly aware of anything that could bring an aircraft down.

The cause of the accident needs no reference to the NTSB. The J-3 slowed to below it’s stall speed for the turning configuration. It was a low and slow classic accident and it was oh so tragic. Two young healthy men that can never be replaced are forever gone.

My Top Flight Safety Principles:

1. Memorize and always respect your published aircraft airspeeds.
2. Review your flight plan with all people who’ll be onboard – before you fly.
3. At all times know who is in command of the aircraft.
4. When in doubt, delegate to the most experienced aviator.
5. Ask for assistance early before a minor problem escalates.
6. Maintain a sterile cockpit environment. Keep distractions minimized.
7. Know the maintenance status of the airplane you are flying.
8. Confirm all important tasks have been completed to standard.
9. Use checklists for flying and maintenance procedures.

Although these principles come under the umbrella of the acronym PAVE, Pilot, Aircraft, environment, and External pressures, they are more specific and action oriented.

When you follow these six principles your safety and the safety of your passengers will take quantum leaps. When you think of it, most accidents, like Dale and John’s, happened because one or more of these principles was broken. Don’t let it be you. Fly safe!