The NTSB issued a Safety Alert (PDF) on Friday reminding general aviation pilots they should calculate weight and balance before every flight. Between 2008 and 2016, the board said, incorrect or neglected performance calculations were cited as a probable cause in 136 GA accident reports. In one-third of those accidents, people died. "Overloading aircraft or operating outside of the CG limits can severely degrade an aircraft's performance characteristics and ultimately lead to an aerodynamic stall and/or loss of aircraft control, typically during takeoff or landing," the Safety Alert says. The effects of weather also should be considered, the NTSB says.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/news/ntsb-reminder-check-weight-and-balance