THREAT AND ERROR MANAGEMENT IN THE BACKCOUNTRY - WHY IT MATTERS MORE

As a career pilot, Thread and Error Management (TEM) has been ingrained in how I fly. I’ve become convinced that Threat and Error Management matters more in backcountry flying than just about anywhere else.

Not because the principles are different but because the timeline for decisions is.

In “normal flying,” a poor decision often gives you time to recognize it, correct it, and move on. In the backcountry, the chain gets compressed. Threats are closer, mistakes can compound quickly, and options disappear in a hurry. By the time you realize you're behind the airplane, there may not be enough runway, climb performance, or room to recover.

That's why TEM isn't about avoiding mistakes. It's about breaking the chain before the situation starts making decisions for you.

Most of the threats are familiar. Density altitude. Winds that don't behave as forecast. Narrow strips, rising terrain, soft surfaces, visual illusions, and airplanes that perform a little differently than they did last time. Add a little fatigue, a little confidence from yesterday's success, or an eager passenger, and the margins start shrinking.

The interesting part is that accidents rarely begin with one big mistake. They usually begin with a series of small decisions that seem reasonable at the time. "The tailwind isn't that bad." "We'll climb out fine." "The approach will come together." In the aftermath of a near accident or a survived accident, we’ve heard all of these testimonials…sometimes from the voice in our own headset.

The best backcountry pilots I've flown with all seem to have one thing in common. They're willing to change the plan early. They don't wait for proof that something is wrong. If the approach isn't shaping up, they leave. If the takeoff isn't developing as expected, they abort. If the conditions don't match what they planned for, they wait or go somewhere else.

That's TEM in its simplest form: anticipate the threats, recognize when reality no longer matches the plan, and act while you still have options.

One thought has stayed with me over the years: backcountry accidents rarely begin with bold decisions…they begin with delayed decisions.

The RAF Safety, Education, and Etiquette team is looking at practical ways to apply TEM in the backcountry, including personal decision gates, arrival and departure briefs, and recognizing the traps that catch even experienced pilots. Let us know by sharing your own tips and ideas in “Comments” below.

Until then, ask yourself one question before every approach and every takeoff:

If this doesn't work exactly as planned, what's my next move?

If you have a good answer, you're probably ahead of the airplane.

Submitted August 8, 2026

By Robert Miller, RAF West Virginia Liaison & Safety, Education, and Etiquette Committee member