I have read a lot of comments from people who say things like,
"ive been in this job for years" and "ive made more landings than youve had hot dinners" and other smart ar*e comments.
EXPERIENCE and COMPETENCE are two totally separate qualities.
I read the aaib reports at work and some of the things that pilots do that land them in bother really amaze me. I know of 2 particular fatal accidents, both involving light aircraft, which have left my colleagues and I asking "why on earth did they do that?"
In both examples, the comments in local newspapers etc all have words such as "he had been flying for 35 years and was very experienced".
Only by the grace of god, these sort of guys manage to bimble along all these years without killing themselves or others.
Experience is a double edged sword. It is invaluable in the hands of a competent pilot, but deadly when exercised by an incompetent.