1) Keeping your margins for error maximized. California had a PA-28 on a night sortie that cleared the runway onto a lighted taxiway. The pilot turned between the blue taxiway lights but still departed the paved surface and struck an unlighted airport sign with the prop. The extent of the engine damage is still being investigated. The moral of this story is to follow taxiway lines if available; if not, aim for the center between the lights. If the taxiway is perpendicular to the runway, use a 90 degree turn to exit. Safety is keeping your margins for error maximized; maintaining centerline during takeoff, landing or taxi does this.

Source CAP Safety Newsletter, Dec 97 Initial ________

2) Murphy Strikes Again ! Arizona had a serious injury when a crewmember’s foot slipped off the aircraft step causing a laceration to his shin. The cut went to the bone and required eight sutures. This just drives home the point that no matter how innocuous an activity may appear, Murphy can raise his ugly head and bite you!

Source CAP Safety Newsletter, Dec 97 Initial ________

3) Early morning departure from a dark ramp; I did not finish my walk-around inspection, as I was interrupted by a passenger arriving early. I never resumed my normal routine. On takeoff, I heard the First Officer call, "You've got no airspeed." I then called, "Say your airspeed." Came the reply, "I've got no airspeed either." By that time, we had considerable speed, and...I elected to continue takeoff. Airborne, I got the "ADC [Air Data Computer] failure" light. We decided to dump fuel and return to base. The aircraft had been inspected and washed the day before, and tape had been left on the static ports and pitot tubes. I had not seen it in the dark, and my pre-flight had been interrupted.

Source ASRS Callback, November, 1997 Initial ________

4) After takeoff, I told Center that we were 4-1/2 minutes until jumpers away, and I confirmed that there was no traffic in the area. At 12,000 feet, I made an announcement on CTAF that jumpers would be jumping in two minutes. At one minute away from jumpers exiting the aircraft, a spotter checked one last time for hazardous traffic. I made one final announcement on CTAF that jumping would be in progress for the next 10 minutes. After landing, I was told that an aircraft hit a skydiver's open canopy at about 2,000 feet, just seconds after the chute deployed. The most outboard cell of the chute had a one-foot tear in it, confirming the event. The skydiver was not hurt, nor was the chute damaged enough for a cutaway. The pilot of the other aircraft knew he was near the drop zone. He also heard the two-minute call on the CTAF, but continued flying circles near the area. It is possible that he was distracted while circling and sightseeing.

Source ASRS Callback, November, 1997 Initial ________