On Jan 24, 8:26*am, (Ron Lee) wrote:
Ed Lewis was one of the most experienced pilots I know. He was a test
pilot for NASA, a former combat fighter pilot, an RV owner and a good
guy.

Still they take off on a night VFR flight into mountainous terrain. =A0

Correct. So if two pilots who have far superior skill and judegement
than you or I, that are flying one of the most technically advanced GA
aircraft on the market can get into trouble, the rest of us should
take a moment to pause.

-Robert

I have no need to pause. *I don't fly in the mountains at night.
Experience means little when poor judgment takes over. *Remember the
famous guy who died flying into a thunderstorm not long ago? *What
good did his "experience" do? *

The vast majority of aircraft accidents/fatalities are due to poor
judgment/pilot error. *Read the Nall report. * One would have odds in
his favor assuming that it is the causal factor in this accident as
well.

People would do a far greater service to pilots by pointing out
stupidity, encouraging the development of better piloting decision
making than saying "If someone as awesome as him died, what can I
possibly do?"

Its easy to feel invulnerable as a pilot by dismissing all aviation
accidents as the result of a stupid action that you would not take.
Its not until you discover pilots with greater judgement than yourself
have died that you rethink that.

-Robert