Aeronautical Decision Making
2007
CFI and Accidents
Three-quarters (75%) of the inadvertent gear retractions that occur during
flight training happen when a flight instructor is on board.
Half (50%) of the stall accidents that occur during flight training have a
flight instructor on board.
One-third (33%) of the fuel starvation accidents during flight training occur
with a flight instructor on board.
Half (50%) of the mid-airs that happen during flight training had a CFI on
board.
Forty percent (40%) of the carburetor icing accidents in flight training had
a CFI on board.
Half (50%) of the wire strikes during flight training had a CFI on board.
Source: Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine
The Mental Aspects of Flying
Aspect:
A way in which a thing may be
viewed or regarded
The challenge then is to correctly
ascertain
thethat
significance
of what
Everything
we are able
to
weperceive,
are doing,
or about
to do,or
and
whether
visually
what the has
outcome
be
mentally,
somemight
meaning
Easier said than done.
WHY ???
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Some perceptions are ranked higher than
others, in the normal course of events
Some are important, others are urgent
We have a tendency to revert back to a
“Conditioned Response”.
Aeronautical Decision Making
Starts Long BEFORE the Flight

Weather
 Plane
 Self
Bottom Line: AM I SAFE ?
>>>Options to the Flight>>>.
EGO

Arrogance Plus Plane,
Minus Caution,
Equals A Foregone Conclusion
……J.D. Wettering
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After all is said and done, was the flight
absolutely necessary when factoring in all
of the elements

There are old pilots and there are bold
pilots, but are there old, bold pilots????
Meanings of
Hazardous Attitudes
Resignation….What’s the use!!!!!
NEW Meaning:
Resignation….Quit…
Give up...I’ve Lost...Denial
Timid.
Meanings of
Hazardous Attitudes
Impulsive…..Do something quickly
NEW Meaning:
Impulsive…..Hasty….
Irrational…Sudden…Instinctive
Some Good.
Meanings of
Hazardous Attitudes
Anti-Authority…Don’t Tell me
NEW Meaning:
Anti-Authority…
Arrogant..Selfish..Defiant.
Meanings of
Hazardous Attitudes
Macho…I can do it
NEW Meaning:
Macho…Overly Assertive
Aggressive….Dominating.
Meanings of
Hazardous Attitudes
Invulnerable..It won’t happen to me
NEW Meaning:
Invulnerable….Can not be hurt..
A Very Real False Sense of
Security
What Some Fail to Understand
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Most Accidents have been Pre-determined
before the plane takes off
An accident, willing and able to happen
Think through the Consequences
Before, During and After the Flight
If it helps, Draw Mental Picture of the
Situation
When things change, you change
What is your plan “B”……if you have one.
Basics to Decision Making

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Physical
…..Impairments
Psychological
…..What we have already created in our
minds and what we can create during
the flight
Denial..Resistance..Uncertainty
..Shock... Acceptance
Hopefully Results are good.
An Accident and What We Know
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Night Flight….0345Z ….
Pilot is VFR Only
Wx getting worse…..ATIS ..X…..Y
Airport Challenging…..TAXI
No Personal Minimums
No Options for the Trip
Controller & Others Influence Decisions
A Very Powerful Airplane
No Apprehension About Making the Flight
The Background of an Accident
Three out of town friends, the Pilot and his wife having
finished a late afternoon dinner, climbed into a Twin
Cessna 320C for a return trip back home to Salina.
The short hop was through a valley with 830’ ridges on
either side.
The VFR Only pilot and his guests were less than 20
minutes away by car, or, 10 minutes flight time.
ATIS INFORMATION “X”:
0245z(GMT) EC900 OC 7 57/51 290/8 29.94 TOPS 1800’
ILS 10 28 110.7
ATIS INFORMATION “Y”:
0345Z EC 700 OC 7 57/50 260/5 29.97 TOPS 1900
ILS 10 LDG & Departing 10 & 28
7AE:
MONTEREY GROUND CONTROL,
TWIN CESSNA 877AE
MONT GND:
TWIN CESSNA 7AE MONTEREY...
7AE : THIS 877AE DOWN AT THE END OF
DEL MONTE I WOULD LIKE CLEARANCE
TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY PLEASE ……
MONT GRD: TWIN CESSNA 7AE ..AH .. STATE YOUR
DEPARTURE REQUEST… MONTEREY IS
BELOW BASIC VFR AND DO YOU HAVE
THE CURRENT INFORMATION
7AE:
..ah..NEGATIVE ..ah ..I’m ONLY VFR…..
MONT GRD:
Monterey is below BASIC VFR
and I see No break in the Overcast
in the area from where we are at…
7AE:
ah.. This 7AE is there any possibilities
that we can Takeoff on 36 down to Gonzales……
MONT GRD:
OK.. What did you what to do……..?
7AE:
Takeoff toward Salinas Valley……….
7AE:
What ceilings do we have out here……..?
MONT GRD: We are estimating:
Ceiling 700 Overcast
Visibility 7……
7AE:
Will this get me over to ..ah..Salinas Valley
and over to the Mountains or is there Overcast
there to….?
MONT GRD: OK..Standby and let me check the
current Salinas Weather……
MONT GRD: Salinas..Monterey?…Salinas my WX is EC 700 OC 7
57/50 280/5 9.97 Tops 1900..Have you got your up yet…..ah no not at
this time…What does look like to the Southeast of you?…ah aircraft
report that about SVFR 30 …..15..20 minutes ago
about 4 or 5 miles South Clear….and ONE ECHO CHARLIE is on
the ground….ONE ECHO CHARLIE is on the Ground !!!!!!! …..
Thank you.. And Can I have the CONTROL ZONE W….You are
going to have to talk to North ..this Ground OK….OK
MONT GRD: Twin Cessna 7AE ..ah Salinas doesn’t have any
of their new WX yet…Last hour they were reporting 900
Broken 20000 Broken.. Aircraft Reporting VFR 5 miles
Southeast of Salinas..
7AE:
We probably can make it out to
South end of Salinas Right….?( NEG…………)
MONT GRD:
Understand you what to depart
Eastbound and then follow the Highway..?
7AE:
ah..Roger..
MONT GRD: Roger.. Taxi to Runway 10…you are CLEARED out
of the Monterey Control Zone…5 miles East and maintain
SPECIAL VFR conditions while you are in the Control Zone…
7 AE:……. ah..7AE ah……Roger …..Thank You
MONT GRD:
Twin Cessna 7AE Runway 10
you are headed for 6…and you are
ah…. Familiar…?
7 AE: …………this place several times……
MONT GRD: 7AE…. A left turn…take…continue the left turn
about another 30 or 40 degrees to the left…7AE continue the left
turn and just about ahead of you..you should see some Blue lights
7AE:
Alright…
MONT GRD: ….That will take you to the approach end
of Runway 10
7AE: Control 7AE …You Say ……..only 900’ altitude
in the Salinas Valley and then from there…
MONT GRD: NEGATIVE SIR ..I just reported that
Monterey was reporting 700 OC Vis. 7…Salinas last hour
was reporting 900 OC with clear skies REPORTED by a pilot
up to 45 minutes ago that it was clear 5 Southeast of Salinas.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE WX IS EAST OF
MONTEREY BETWEEN MONTEREY AND SALINAS
OR IF THE WX SOUTHEAST OF MONTEREY IS STILL
VALID……..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7AE: OK….Thank you…..
7AE:
Control this Twin Cessna 7AE……….
I GUESS we are ready to takeoff…….
MONT GRD: CHEROKEE 7AE cleared for takeoff…..
MONT TWR:
and Twin Cessna 7AE do you have the
highway in sight…?
7AE:
7AE Roger…..
MONT TWR: OK.. Just keep the highway and stay toward the
highway and that will take you out the Salinas
Valley..and stand by this frequency while in the
Control Zone
7AE: 7 AE Roger..
Commercial 241: Monterey Tower 241 on the ILS outside…..
MONT TWR: …West Monterey Tower..
clear to land 10...wind calm..
Commercial 241:
Cleared to land…..
MONT TWR: Twin Cessna 7AE TURN LEFT……….. TURN
LEFT .. YOU ARE HEADED TO HIGH TERRAIN IN THAT
DIRECTION …..TURN LEFT AT SUGGESTED HEADING
060……!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MONT TWR: TWIN CESSNA 7AE MONTEREY…
TWIN CESSNA 7AE
MONTEREY APPROACH CONTROL …
MONTEREY TOWER………
ATIS INFORMATION “X”:
0245z(GMT) EC900 OC 7 57/51 290/8 29.94 TOPS 1800’
ILS 10 28 110.7
ATIS INFORMATION “Y”:
0345Z EC 700 OC 7 57/50 260/5 29.97 TOPS 1900
ILS 10 LDG & Departing 10 & 28
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
 No
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ATIS / WX…….Invulnerable.
VFR pilot flying at night…..Impulsive
7AE: Monterey Ground Control Twin Cessna 877AE.
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
I
have a Flight , Nothing Can Hurt
Me,.... Invulnerable.
 Night Flight, I’m good ..Macho
 I’m in the plane and ready to go…
Impulsive
 No ATIS / Wx… Anti-Authority
7AE : THIS 877AE DOWN AT THE END OF
DEL MONTE I WOULD LIKE CLEARANCE
TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY PLEASE ……
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
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Can see the overcast isn’t a concern
…….Invulnerable.
VFR pilot flying at night…..Impulsive
10:00pm at Night…………..Macho
MONT GRD: TWIN CESSNA 7AE ..AH .. STATE
YOUR DEPARTURE REQUEST…
MONTEREY IS BELOW BASIC VFR ..AND DO
YOU HAVE THE CURRENT INFORMATION
7AE: ..ah..NEGATIVE ..ah ..I’m ONLY VFR…..
MONT GRD:
Monterey is below BASIC VFR
and I see No break in the Overcast
in the area from where we are at…
7AE:
ah.. This 7AE is there any possibilities
that we can Takeoff on 36 down to Gonzales……
MONT GRD:
OK.. What did you what to do……..?
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
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Going to some way….Invulnerable.
I don’t see a problem….Macho
Surely I can suggest something
else…..Impulsive
Challenging ATIS/ Tower….Anti-authority
VFR and Going……Impulsive
7AE:
Takeoff toward Salinas Valley……….
7AE:
What ceilings do we have out here……..?
MONT GRD: We are estimating
Ceiling 700 Overcast Visibility 7……
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
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Go Back to ATIS…….Invulnerable.
Indifference….Macho
Tone of Exasperation…..Impulsive
Tone of Desperation……Resignation
7AE: Will this get me over to ..ah..Salinas Valley and over
to the Mountains or is there Overcast there to….?
MONT GRD: OK..Standby and let me check the
current Salinas Weather……
MONT GRD: Salinas..Monterey?…Salinas my WX is EC 700 OC 7
57/50 280/5 9.97 Tops 1900..Have you got your up yet…..ah no not at
this time…What does look like to the Southeast of you?…ah aircraft
report that about SVFR 30 …..15..20 minutes ago
about 4 or 5 miles South Clear….and ONE ECHO CHARLIE is on
the ground….ONE ECHO CHARLIE is on the Ground !!!!!!! …..
Thank you.. And Can I have the CONTROL ZONE W….You are
going to have to talk to North ..this Ground OK….OK
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
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Begging, Forcing…….Invulnerable.
Indifference to the Danger….Macho
And What else can I ask for…..Impulsive
You aren’t making since….Anti-authority
7AE:
We probably can make it out to South end of
Salinas Right….?……………( NEG…………)
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
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We can do it …..Invulnerable.
Don’t care conditions…...Macho
If not now what…..Impulsive
We can make it out Right….Anti-authority
If you say it’s OK……Resignation
MONT GRD:
Understand you what to depart Eastbound
and then follow the Highway..?
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
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The Authority has spoken…Resignation
Lets Go,,,Enough of this Non-Sense
…………….Impulsive
Authority is Always Right….Invulnerable
I’ll Show you…(Passengers)…..Macho
We don’t Break the Rules and we Don’t
allow others to break the Rules.. Macho
7AE: 7AE ah..Roger..
MONT GRD: Roger.. Taxi to Runway 10…you are CLEARED out
of the Monterey Control Zone…5 miles East and maintain
SPECIAL VFR conditions while you are in the Control Zone…
7AE: Control 7AE …You Say ……..only 900’ altitude
in the Salinas Valley and then from there…
MONT GRD: NEGATIVE SIR ..I just reported that
Monterey was reporting 700 OC Vis. 7…Salinas last hour
was reporting 900 OC with clear skies REPORTED by a pilot
up to 45 minutes ago that it was clear 5 Southeast of Salinas.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE WX IS EAST OF
MONTEREY BETWEEN MONTEREY AND SALINAS
OR IF THE WX SOUTHEAST OF MONTEREY IS STILL
VALID……..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
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Indifference….Macho
I’m VFR and going…..Impulsive
Tower communications….Anti-authority
7AE:
Control this Twin Cessna 7AE………..
I GUESS we are ready to takeoff…….
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
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Call for Take off ..”I guess we are ready”
……
Resignation …….
MONT TWR: Twin Cessna 7AE TURN LEFT……….. TURN
LEFT .. YOU ARE HEADED TO HIGH TERRAIN IN THAT
DIRECTION …..TURN LEFT AT SUGGESTED HEADING
060……!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Analyzing the Accident…
using Hazardous Attitudes
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No Where to go, …..nothing I can do..
…… IT’S OVER !!!!!!!!!!
Resignation
The Physiological Aspects of
Flying That Are Hazardous.
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Dehydration..Little Discussion……..
Fatigue can lead to resignation
Legal Drugs can lead to….Anti-authority
Panic can lead to impulsiveness…
Illegal Drugs can lead…..Macho
““Watch this””…Famous last words
No Alcohol 24 hours before flight
.