Definition
A pattern of pilot decision-making in which hazards are not properly identified, assessed, or controlled before or during flight, leading to unnecessary exposure to risk. It is a recognized causal factor in a significant proportion of general aviation accidents.
Plain English
Failing to spot the things that could go wrong on a flight, or spotting them but not doing enough about them, so the flight ends up more dangerous than it should be.
Context Anchor
Used in flight training, accident prevention, and preflight decision-making when discussing how pilots avoid unsafe choices.
Why Pilots Care
It is the root cause of the majority of general aviation accidents and directly determines whether a pilot returns home safely on any given day.
Grounding Statement
Poor risk management is what happens when warning signs are present and the pilot does not adjust the plan enough to stay safe.
Intuition Check
Do not read “poor” here as meaning unlucky or simply low-quality. In this context, it means the pilot did not manage known or knowable hazards well enough.
Example Sentence 1
The accident report concluded that poor risk management, including a decision to depart into deteriorating weather without an alternate, was the primary cause.
Example Sentence 2
During the preflight discussion the instructor pointed out that poor risk management often begins with dismissing small signs such as fatigue or a slight drop in visibility.