Jeff Edwards Wrote and again is right on target:

“Here is how you can reduce your chance of ending up in a pile of carbon at the end of the runway

 

1. train with a qualified instructor every 6 months-- practice makes perfect

2. practice emergency procedures often-- know your procedures cold

3. don't fly into thunderstorms

4. stay instrument proficient (that means real damn good)

5. don't fly the airplane when it is broke

6. don't do anything stupid

 

6 simple steps but just about every Lancair accident out there had one or more elements of the above in them: “

 

What have I done to hopefully avoid these pitfalls:

1.      Yes, and insurance requires it
2.      Yes, especially the pull the prop and use it to control the descent rate and setting up for landings.  (Bring the power on occasionally to make certain the engine hasn’t really died)

3.      Fly with WxWorx or WSI weather in the cockpit all the time.  Stay out of the green to avoid ice.  Stay 20 + miles from build ups.  Ask for deviations without any hesitation.  And if ATC doesn’t grant them, plead, beg, deviate to an airport somewhere or declare an emergency.  In my experience, ATC always grant them and I request them long before I absolutely need them.

4.      Invite pilot friends to go up every month and go shoot an approach or 2.  Usually I fly one and they fly one.  (I fly about 15 real approaches a year in my 200 hours per year flying)

5.      Yes.
6.      Stupid happens, recognize and recover.

I would add one critical component—Don’t Go Slow.  I have a Gear Minder that is also my “don’t go slow” minder.  It is set for 140kts.  So if I go below 140 kts, the pleasant voice in the headset says, “Put Gear Down”  and the second time is “Put Gear Down Now” in not as nice a tone.  What she is really saying when I am climbing out or touring around is “Put nose down” or “Put Power On” as my airspeed has deteriorated to 140kts.  I also have AOA although the gear minder is better for this purpose.

And then pattern speeds are: 120kts on down wind, 110 on base and 100 on final.

Carl Cadwell

N25CL-IVP 950 hours