Checklists
I once attended a lecture given by an aviation psychologist (psychiatarist?) from the english aviation research organisation at Farnborough. It was most interesting. One story he told was about a phantom crew who were flying at night and had an electrical failure. The pilot fumbled around in the dark to activate the emergency power system, and ended up putting the flaps down instead. The flaps were damaged, and he had much difficulty controlling the aeroplane, but did manage to get it back to base. They had it almost on the ground but were losing control, so went to full power, with afterburners to go around, but it was still out of control so they used their bang seats, leaving the aeroplane with full power, and no-one in it. They had to do a lot of rebuilding after that.
Back to the subject.
He also told us about his investigations of gear up landings. He said that in EVERY case the crew went through the checklist, and called "gear down three greens". After landing, one captain said " there is something wrong with the brakes". Another looked out the window and remarked about how tall the fireman was.
Strange things happen when people are under stress.
Checklists can be good, or they can be a danger, in single pilot aeroplanes. I remember having a great big long checklist ("to do list") that had you winding the checklist on short final, if you did it the way you were supposed to. Very soon people were commencing that part of the checklist much sooner and getting it completed sooner. It was eventually changed. Checklists can very easily get far too complicated and become a hindrance, rather than a safety aid. Too often they are there to protect people who are not in the aeroplane.
Having said that, I acknowledge that good checklists work well (but are not infallible) and are an essential part of aviation. They should be a simple, short list of essential items. And as a backup, pilots should cultivate habits that are triggered by something other than the checklist. (like "check wheels when you see a runway in front") Habits are automatic.
He who is without sin can cast the first stone. We should study and learn from accidents and incidents. The "punishing of the offender" has already been well and truly done. He now needs support.