Avoid being complacent - Use checklists
A pilot parked an aircraft (a Cessna 172) at my home airport without enforcing a simple policy which is appropriately securing the aircraft wheels with required chocks and came back to find out that the aircraft became totaled and the only way to get back home was by a rental car (more than 5 hours of driving). The aircraft rolled back and hit a wall resulting in the destruction of the aircraft empennage structure.
Another pilot (a Cirrus pilot) learned a hard lesson when he forgot to remove the towbar before engine start and the resulting prop-strike was disastrous. Thousands of Euros lost due to complacency.
Both scenarios were clearly avoidable by following the checklist.
I'm astounded at some of the logic being used here. If either pilot needed a checklist to avoid these incidents then I'm afraid he/she shouldn't have a licence.
Both incidents would have been avoided by a normal post flight or pre flight walk around. There should be no need to have a piece of paper in your hand telling you what to look for in cases like these.