VFR Route at Springbank
14 June 2024
How to Become a Career Pilot – Part One
3 March 2025
Mistakes are a normal part of the learning process in aviation. Every student pilot will stumble at times – what matters is how you learn from those errors. In fact, becoming aware of common pitfalls can help you avoid them or correct course faster. Flying is a complex skill, and even experienced pilots were once beginners who had to master the basics through practice and perseverance.
In this post, we highlight ten of the most common mistakes aspiring pilots make during training, and more importantly, how to overcome them. Each mistake is paired with practical tips to help you improve. By understanding these challenges and their solutions, you can build safer habits, gain confidence, and make steady progress on your journey to becoming a proficient pilot.
1. Skipping or Rushing Pre-Flight Inspections
The Mistake:
It’s easy to feel eager to get airborne and thus rush through the pre-flight inspection or even skip certain checklist items. Some student pilots, seeing more experienced flyers breeze through pre-flight, might assume it’s okay to cut corners. The result is that important details get missed – a control surface might be locked, fuel low, or an instrument faulty, and you wouldn’t know until it becomes a problem in the air. Rushing also adds stress and means you’re not fully in the right mindset before takeoff.
How to Overcome:
Slow down and treat the pre-flight as a crucial part of the flight itself. Arrive at the airport early so you have plenty of time for a thorough walk-around inspection and cockpit setup. Always use a written checklist and physically verify each item. Remember that even seasoned pilots use checklists methodically – it’s a sign of professionalism, not inexperience. Instructors sometimes intentionally leave small obstructions or quirks for students to catch during pre-flight; don’t fall for these “gotchas” (10 things student pilots do wrong - AOPA). Take your time and double-check everything. By developing diligent pre-flight habits, you’ll ensure the aircraft is airworthy and set the tone for a safe flight.
2. Neglecting Checklist Use in Flight
The Mistake:
Many new pilots dutifully use checklists to start the engine and take off, then forget about them during the rest of the flight. It’s a common error to neglect flow checks for cruise, descent, or landing. In the heat of training, you might rely on memory or get distracted and skip crucial items (such as switching fuel tanks, adjusting mixture, or setting flaps for landing). This inconsistency can lead to safety issues and shows poor cockpit discipline. The FAA emphasizes checklist usage so strongly that the word “checklist” appears 44 times in the Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards (10 things student pilots do wrong - AOPA) – yet student pilots often fall short of using them consistently beyond startup.
How to Overcome:
Commit to using checklists for every phase of flight. Develop the habit of running a cruise checklist after leveling off, a pre-landing checklist before entering the pattern, and so on. Don’t dismiss these as trivial – they are there to ensure nothing important is overlooked. If you catch yourself relying on memory alone, pause and pull out the checklist to verify. As one instructor observed, many students use the checklist for engine start, runup, and takeoff but then “don’t touch it” for cruise or landing. Break that pattern by deliberately integrating checklist usage into your workflow until it becomes second nature. Not only will this keep you safer, it will also impress examiners – they expect you to use a checklist even during the preflight inspection and approach phases. Good checklist discipline is one of the easiest ways to prevent avoidable mistakes in the air.
3. Insufficient Weather Briefing and Flight Planning
The Mistake:
Heading out to fly without a proper weather briefing – or relying only on a quick glance outside – is a frequent mistake among students. You might check the forecast early in the day but then fail to update it before takeoff, or not fully understand the implications of the weather data. This can lead to launching into conditions that exceed your limits or a nasty surprise en route. For example, a student may see a forecast of light winds, only to find that by the time they’re ready to depart, the winds have picked up beyond safe limits for solo flight. Skipping thorough planning can also mean not accounting for NOTAMs, TFRs, or fuel requirements.
How to Overcome:
Always obtain an official weather briefing (via flight service or an approved app) before every flight, and do it as close to your departure time as practical. If there’s a delay or something doesn’t look right when you get to the airport, don’t hesitate to update the briefing or call Flight Service again – there’s truly no limit on how many times you can check the weather. Pay attention to winds, visibility, ceilings, and forecasts along your route, and compare them against your personal minimums and any limits your instructor or school has set. If conditions don’t match the briefing or if anything has changed, take the time to reassess. It’s far better to delay a flight or cancel if things don’t feel right. Good planning also means thinking through your route, fuel stops, and alternates on cross-countries. By cultivating careful pre-flight planning habits, you’ll avoid unwelcome surprises and build decision-making skills that are the mark of a safe pilot.
4. Poor Radio Communication Habits
The Mistake:
Talking on the radio can be intimidating for new pilots. Many student pilots either freeze up and say nothing when they should, or stumble over their words when contacting ATC or making traffic calls. Reluctance to key the mic is common when you’re unsure of what to say, especially at a busy airport where communications are rapid-fire. This can lead to missed clearances, confusion, or loss of situational awareness. On the other extreme, some students key the mic without thinking, leading to garbled or inappropriate transmissions. Consistently poor radio habits can frustrate other pilots and controllers and add stress to your flight.
How to Overcome:
The antidote to radio jitters is practice and preparation. Work with your instructor on standard phraseology for various situations (taxi, takeoff, entering patterns, talking to approach control, etc.). Many schools provide script templates for common radio calls – use these to rehearse. For example, one flight academy uses scripted calls and has students practice them out loud, which helps build confidence and timing. Take advantage of a quiet moment on the ramp or at home to chair-fly your radio calls: visualize each phase of flight and speak the expected call as if you were on frequency. Additionally, spend time listening to live ATC (using a radio or online streams) to get used to the pace and format of real-world communications. The goal is to make aviation phrases second nature. Over time, you’ll gain the confidence to jump in at the right moment and communicate clearly. Remember, even experienced pilots occasionally flub a radio call – the key is to stay calm, clarify if needed, and keep going. With practice, using the radio will become as routine as flying the plane.
5. Fixating on Instruments Instead of Looking Outside
The Mistake:
Modern training aircraft often have impressive digital instrument panels, which can inadvertently encourage students to fixate on the screens. Many new pilots get tunnel vision, staring at the airspeed, altitude, or other gauges, and forget to scan outside. The result is a loss of situational awareness: you might miss other traffic, fail to notice changing weather, or not realize your nose attitude is off until it’s pronounced. Over-reliance on instruments can also slow your ability to develop “seat of the pants” flying skills. In extreme cases, students have flown poorly trimmed or misconfigured aircraft simply because they were engrossed in the displays and not paying attention to the airplane’s feedback.
How to Overcome:
Look outside! Make a conscious effort to divide your attention between instruments and the world beyond the windshield. A good rule of thumb is the majority of your time (especially under VFR) should be eyes-out, with quick glances at the gauges to verify what you already suspect from the airplane’s feel. Often, the information you need – whether the airplane is climbing, descending, or banking – can be sensed by the sight of the horizon relative to your nose, or the sound of the engine, better than by staring at numbers (10 things student pilots do wrong - AOPA). Instructors will sometimes even cover up the glass cockpit displays to train you to rely on external cues. Remember the adage: “aviate, navigate, communicate” – in VFR flying, aviate means maintaining awareness of your attitude and surroundings primarily by looking outside. If you find yourself glued to the panel, force yourself to raise your eyes and scan for traffic or visual references. As one instructor bluntly put it, if you’re busy looking inside, who’s looking for traffic? The best source of attitude and situational information is right in front of you through the windshield. By developing a proper visual scan and using instruments as an aid (not a crutch), you’ll fly more smoothly and safely.
6. Neglecting Rudder and Coordination
The Mistake:
New pilots often struggle with coordinating the rudder with their other controls. A very common error is not using enough right rudder during takeoff and climb. Most training airplanes naturally pull to the left on takeoff due to engine torque, P-factor, spiraling slipstream, and gyroscopic forces. If a student pilot forgets to add right rudder pressure, the airplane will yaw left – possibly veering off the runway centerline or drifting when climbing out. In turns, too, lack of rudder coordination can cause sloppy, uncoordinated flight (slipping or skidding). Neglecting the rudder not only feels wrong, it can be unsafe close to the ground.
How to Overcome:
Understand the “why” behind rudder usage and make it part of your standard control inputs. When adding full power for takeoff, be ready with that right rudder to keep the nose straight. If you’re veering left, it’s a sign you need more right pedal. As you learn the effects of those left-turning tendencies, you’ll get a feel for how much rudder to apply. Instructors often repeat the mantra “right rudder, right rudder” during initial takeoffs. With practice, your feet will instinctively counteract the yaw. One survey of common student pilot errors found that failure to hold right rudder on takeoff was a widespread problem, leading to drifting off the runway or centerline during climb-out. The cure is repetition and awareness: every time you advance the throttle, anticipate the yaw and step on the rudder to keep the aircraft coordinated. The same goes for turns – lead with a bit of rudder into the turn to keep it balanced. Over time, coordination will become second nature. You can also practice coordination exercises at altitude (with your instructor), like Dutch rolls or slipping and skidding intentionally, to see how rudder affects the airplane’s behavior. Mastering the rudder will make your flying smoother and your takeoffs and turns much more precise.
7. Overcontrolling the Aircraft (Tight Grip)
The Mistake:
When learning to fly, it’s natural to be a bit tense. Many student pilots grip the yoke or stick too hard and overcontrol the airplane. You might find yourself making constant, large control inputs – porpoising in pitch or see-sawing the wings – because you’re chasing perfection and reacting abruptly to every minor deviation. This “iron grip” and overcontrolling tendency often makes things worse: if you’re too stiff, the plane can’t naturally self-correct, and your inputs become jerky. The result is inefficient flying, altitude deviations, and a whole lot of extra stress on you. Tension can also creep in during landings or maneuvers, where overcontrol leads to unstable approaches or botched maneuvers.
How to Overcome:
Relax and trust the airplane. Remind yourself that the aircraft is designed to be stable – if properly trimmed, it will practically fly itself with only small corrections from you. Actively check your grip: if your knuckles are white or your forearm is starting to ache, loosen up. One flight instructor famously told his student, “The airplane wants to fly, just let it be and relax.” And it turned out to be great advice: when the student relaxed his iron grip, his flying improved noticeably (Five common student pilot mistakes : Flight Training Central). Try to hold the controls with just a few fingers instead of your whole fist, or even rest your hand lightly on your leg and use fingertip pressure on the yoke. This prevents you from making sudden, large yanks. Additionally, use trim to relieve control pressures – if you find you’re having to push or pull a lot, re-trim the aircraft so it naturally stays where you want. By staying ahead of the plane with gentle inputs and a light touch, you’ll find it easier to keep altitude and heading under control. Overcontrolling often diminishes with experience as you become more comfortable; until then, consciously think “easy does it” every time you manipulate the controls.
8. Unstable Approaches and Overshooting Final
The Mistake:
Flying a consistent traffic pattern to a smooth landing is one of the bigger challenges for student pilots. A common mistake here is overshooting the turn from base to final, or otherwise coming in to land unstabilized. Overshooting final approach often happens when a student turns base leg too late or doesn’t account for wind, causing them to drift beyond the runway centerline and then scramble to correct back. Even if the final turn is on target, an unstable approach can occur if you’re too high, too low, or not at the right speed on final. Students might fixate on trying to make the runway and end up diving or dragging in with low power, or conversely, come in too high and fast and float. These approach mistakes can lead to poorly executed landings or the need for a go-around (which is not a failure, but a smart choice when things aren’t right).
How to Overcome:
Aim for a stable approach every time, and give yourself room to correct. On downwind, pick an appropriate point to turn base (such as abeam the runway numbers) and adjust if there’s a strong wind pushing you. If you find yourself overshooting through the extended centerline on final, it’s better to go around and try again than to attempt a steep, uncoordinated turn back. Practice with your instructor to develop a sense of the correct spacing and timing in the pattern. Know that overshooting final is a common training hurdle – many students struggle with it for a few flights until they “get it”. It often comes down to learning how the particular aircraft handles and how to anticipate winds. With experience, you’ll start to judge your base turn and descent profile more accurately. Use visual cues (such as the runway’s appearance) and always keep the approach stabilized: proper glide slope, approach speed, and full flaps when required. If any of those factors are off and not correcting by late final, execute a go-around and set up for another try. Consistency comes with repetition. Stay patient and focused – nailing the approach is key to a good landing.
9. Flaring Too Early or Too Late
The Mistake:
Landing an airplane is an art that can take time to master. Two classic student pilot errors during landing are flaring too high or flaring too low (too late). If you flare (raise the nose to land) too early, the plane can balloon or stall high above the runway and then drop in for a hard landing. If you flare too late or not enough, you might drive the airplane onto the runway nose-first or hit with excessive speed. These mistakes usually stem from misjudging altitude and timing in those last few seconds before touchdown. Many student pilots are told to “flare” but don’t yet grasp how gradually it needs to be done, or they get nervous and either pull back sharply or not at all. Landing mistakes are very common – nearly every pilot has made them when learning – but they can be frustrating when you end a flight with a bump instead of a smooth touchdown.
How to Overcome:
Focus on the transition to landing, not just the word “flare.” One helpful mindset is to think of it as “transitioning into ground effect” rather than an abrupt flare. As you round out your descent above the runway, gently raise the nose to level flight and then progressively slow the descent as the aircraft settles. Look toward the far end of the runway – this helps you sense your height above the ground and avoid flaring too high. If you often balloon, you might be starting the flare too early; if you’re hitting hard, you may be late or too aggressive. Work with your instructor to find the right sight picture. They might demonstrate a few landings while talking through their height judgment. Small trainers only require a modest pitch-up to land softly – as one instructor quipped, “It’s not the Space Shuttle, it’s a Cessna or a Diamond,” meaning you don’t need a huge dramatic flare for a light airplane. The key is timing and finesse: add just a touch of back pressure as you enter ground effect, then increase it slightly as the plane slows down, keeping it just off the runway until the main wheels kiss the ground. Every landing is a bit different, so don’t be discouraged by a less-than-perfect one. With practice, you will learn to recognize the proper flare timing. If things don’t feel right (you’re dropping in or floating too far), execute a go-around and try again. Gradually, your muscle memory and perception will calibrate, and your landings will become smoother and more consistent.
10. Lack of Continuous Study and Preparation
The Mistake:
Flying isn’t learned only in the cockpit. Many student pilots make the mistake of not dedicating enough time to ground study and lesson preparation. They show up to a lesson having forgotten what was covered last time, or without reading the material for the next topic. This lack of preparation means the instructor has to re-teach previous concepts, slowing progress. Similarly, some students underestimate the overall time and effort required to become proficient – thinking they’ll be ready for their checkride right at the minimum hours of flight time, or that simply logging hours will automatically earn a license. In reality, training requires consistent effort both in the air and on the ground. If you’re not reviewing notes, studying procedures, and mentally chair-flying between lessons, you’re likely to plateau or get frustrated.
How to Overcome:
Embrace a mindset of continuous learning. Treat your flight training like a college course or a full-time job – you’ll need to study regularly, do homework, and stay engaged even on days you don’t fly. Top students review their next lesson’s contents beforehand and come with questions. As one instructor observed, a common mistake is coming to the lesson under-prepared; the last time you thought about flying shouldn’t be the previous lesson itself. After each flight, spend a bit of time reviewing what you learned and previewing what’s coming next. This will reinforce your memory and make the next lesson more effective. Using a syllabus or training checklist can help track requirements and ensure you know what skills and knowledge you need to cover (11 Mistakes that Student Pilots Make - FLYING Magazine). Also, manage your expectations: while there is the legal minimum for a private pilot license, the national average is more like 60 to 100 hours of flight training before students are truly ready. It’s not a race – the goal is to be a competent, safe pilot. So, put in the study time, fly as regularly as you can to maintain continuity, and be patient with yourself. Every hour in the air and on the ground studying is building your aviation foundation. Pilots are always learning; start that habit now as a student, and you’ll carry it through your entire flying career.
Conclusion
Becoming a pilot is a rewarding journey, and making mistakes is an inevitable part of that journey. Each misstep is an opportunity to learn and become better. The key is to maintain a positive attitude and a willingness to improve. When something goes wrong, ask yourself (and your instructor) what you can do differently next time, and incorporate that lesson moving forward.
By being aware of these common student pilot mistakes and actively working to overcome them, you’ll build good habits that will serve you throughout your flying life. Remember that every expert pilot was once a beginner – the reason they are skilled now is because they never stopped learning. So stay curious, keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. With dedication, humility, and the tips above, you’ll not only avoid many pitfalls that snag new pilots, but you’ll also gain the confidence to handle challenges that do arise.
Keep flying, keep learning, and enjoy the process of becoming the best pilot you can be. Safe flying!
