It is revealed that the deceased had a degree in psychology. Why did he choose this degree?
Did he recognise something in himself which was ‘unusual’?
A clinical psychologist (specialising in aviation?) could perhaps give an insight.
Knowing the type of new pilot personality of the accident pilot, I doubt it.
Certain regrettable characteristics present in the Sala accident scenario seem to occur here?
Different human factors at work in these two unrelated events.
I would sum up the deceased conduct as ‘reckless’.
I don't agree. Careless, yes, reckless, no. "Reckless" includes: "without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action", and I do not attribute this to the accident pilot. I think that he cared, but did not understand, nor stopped to consider factors just outside his understanding. For my experience with this personality type, this is usually mentorable to better habits.
In the much bigger picture of primary pilot training, two less than ideal circumstances are colliding: It's getting more expensive, so attracting fewer candidates. Service providers try to keep the costs to a minimum by training to pass the test, rather than pass on all the skills, and, many of today's newer instructors have learned this way, so themselves lack more in depth and peripheral pilot skills. Though not a factor in this accident, there is also a shortage in type skills to train new pilot buyers in the type they purchase. Few instructors have experience on odd, and old advanced/complex types, so good training is hard for new owners to get.
Student pilots can help themselves by somehow realizing that these factors are colliding to affect the breadth of training that they may be offered, and seeking out more experienced instruction, and offering to pay what its worth. I'd done lots of advanced and type training on singles, for pilots who wanted advanced skills, so I have experienced candidate pilots with great learning attitudes, who are willing to pay the cost for comprehensive instruction. But, I agree that such advanced instructions can be hard to find, and is not affordable for all candidates.
Care to tell the story of the Lake in the lake DAR?
It's a short story, which took a long time to drift into history; I was hired to provide Lake Amphibian type training, and a a seaplane rating to a Lake owner. He'd had the plane for a year, but not done any water operations in it yet. He flew really well, very caring and attentive, great attitude and learned. I did all the required training with him, no rush, no pressure, great conditions. I was having him land me into the dock, to practice docking, and drop me off so he could fly the five required solo water circuits, which I was required to watch. The dock was at my local airport, so if he felt uneasy, a runway landing was a choice for him. I was very confident about his skills, and simply not paying attention when he got a landing rather wrong. I remember looking out the right, and knowing that his great approach would touch the keel....... now......, and he did, but it went wrong after that. I have "fixed" such landings before, and simply did not this time, as I allowed myself to be a passenger, and relax. That was not what I was there to do. Life lesson learned.
We were both wearing the full harnesses, and both ripped them out of the plane as we were ejected, and we were both wearing life jackets, which saved us from drowning. And, I wisely was doing the training (and even passengering) at my local airport, where they were watching, and help was available right away. And to think of the training I'd done for years at nearby remote lakes, where there were no witnesses, nor help! That would have certainly been a fatal decision!
As my wife having a relaxed life is much more important to me than being in a plane, my flying no longer includes instruction. But, to continue to pay it forward, I do post the themes I train here when it comes up....