Bert, Excellent article. I'm very concerned about the adrenaline tunnel vision issue and believe it's possibly a bigger factor than we may think. This would explain a lot toward what seems to be a disconnect between highly experienced pilots and accidents rates. I also think it's believable that some experienced pilots may relax their safety margins over time. Fine, untill the day they really need them.

I believe that much discussed Buffalo commuter accident of 2009? showed that the pilot held the yoke full back most of the descent. Could very well be this adrenaline issue.

It won't work in a contest environment very well, but I don't thermal below 1500 AGL, this is the altitude where I concentrate on raising and monitoring my airspeed, staying coordinated and scanning for traffic. I think all this relaxed attitude toward low altitude saves and landouts is not for me. I hear a fair bit of bragging about landouts and how it's no big deal. Read the accident reports for the truth. Not always fatalities, but lot of accidents. ... Aaron