Taking risks is something we do every day; in the shower, on the Interstate or on an approach to minimums. The ways in which we manage those risks often determine whether we'll be around to take them again, or if some other outcome will intervene. Astronauts, test pilots and race-car drivers, among others, regularly place themselves in harm's way. But they have the equipment, the training and the experience necessary to properly manage the risks they face -- and they usually know what the risks are and how to react to them when they arise.Many of us involved in general aviation are not so lucky. While we may know and understand on some level the risks we take, we often fail to prepare ourselves and our equipment for the problems likely to occur. We also tend to string together a series of risks that, individually, would not be insurmountable. But problems and risks rarely occur one by one; they usually come in sequence, presenting us with too much to handle and too little time to handle it. The results, while tragic, are often predictable. Yet, many of us continue to stack the deck of cards against us, adding to the risks we face for no good reason.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/flight-safety/probable-cause-36-stacking-the-deck