Originally Posted by
Jonzarno
If you make the comparison specific to this flight, then yes, you are right! Paradoxically, if Mr Ibbotson had been a “plain vanilla” PPL with no instrument training at all, he might (should!) have declined the flight as obviously being beyond him.
But that said: see also the JFK junior accident:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey
JFK junior wasn’t being paid, but died in an accident not completely dissimilar to this one (no CO poisoning but VFR Pilot, and SEP over water)
Indeed - the pressure to get to destination due to letting family down, even though the flying circumstances have changed, perhaps not dissimilar to the situation Ibbotson found himself in. JFK jnr didn't break the law as such, but the flight was perhaps unwise in those changed circumstances without having previously attained sufficient training & experience to conduct the flight safely. Perhaps it shows that money isn't necessarily the only driver that can compromise sound decision making, rather than that money isn't one, though?