I once had an instrument pilot candidate who wanted to be endorsed for a check-ride before he was ready.  I told him I would not sign him off until I thought he was capabile of passing the checkride on the first try.  I also cautioned him that his judgment would eventually hurt him or others and but maintained the reason he wasn't getting the sign-off was piloting skills.  Within two years he crashed in the mountains in an overloaded plane on takeoff.  He killed himself and one of his passengers due to his lack of judgement.

 

Last thing I wanted to be was right, he was a good friend.  If only he would have listened to me.  Feel free to pass that story on.

 

-Hartley

LNC2