Flight Control Check?
In addition to that, I fail to imagine how the pilot's feet readily reached the rudder pedals with the NVG case between the column and the pedals without awareness that it is there!
I don't want to ignore the possibility of organizational contributors but confess that other than callous disregard for, and failure to enforce, obviously safe operating practices, wonder what organizational contribution could override the pilot's good judgment.
Sometimes what looks like a spade really is a spade.