Scott Draper wrote:

That's a fairly bold statement. Can you cite any cases where that
logic has prevailed?

You can't prove a negative, but there exists an explicit requirement
for such in Large and Turbine powered airplanes, to wit:

=========snip===========
§ 91.503 Flying equipment and operating information.
(a) The pilot in command of an airplane shall ensure that the
following flying equipment and aeronautical charts and data, in
current and appropriate form, are accessible for each flight at the
pilot station of the airplane:
(1) A flashlight having at least two size D cells, or the equivalent,
that is in good working order.
(2) A cockpit checklist containing the procedures required by
paragraph (b) of this section.
(3) Pertinent aeronautical charts.
(4) For IFR, VFR over-the-top, or night operations, each pertinent
navigational enroute, terminal area, and approach and letdown chart.
=========snip===========

The lack of such an explicit requirement is suggestive. What isn't
forbidden is permitted. ;-) If you screwed up while not carrying
charts, then you might get a "Careless or reckless" charge, but that'd
be the only reg to hang you on.


That is a hopeful interpretation.