Plain English Meaning
The false belief that 'it won't happen to me.' A pilot with this attitude takes greater risks because they think bad outcomes only happen to other people, not themselves.
Full Definition
One of the five hazardous attitudes identified by the FAA. It is the mistaken belief that accidents happen to other pilots but will not happen to you. A pilot with this attitude underestimates risk because they assume they are personally exempt from the dangers that affect others. The antidote, taught alongside the attitude, is the self-statement: 'It could happen to me.'
Context Anchor
Seen in flight training when instructors discuss hazardous attitudes, risk decisions, and safer go/no-go choices.
Derivation
From Latin in- ('not') + vulnerabilis ('able to be wounded'), from vulnus ('wound'). Literally 'cannot be wounded.' The FAA uses the word in this original sense -- the pilot acts as if harm cannot reach them personally, even though it reaches others.