But still, it was surprising to see them return to their aircraft, load up their passengers, and take off without a single preflight item accomplished.

What’s the harm in taking a few extra minutes to ensure there are no obvious and visible items of concern? Tires, brakes, fuel tanks, and flight controls can be checked quickly. Even if the aircraft flew well en route and nothing was squawk-worthy when landing, there’s always the possibility of subtle problems that are just beginning to develop and not yet obvious in flight. Maybe those items would be visible before the next flight. Maybe you missed something the first time. Regardless, inspection before takeoff is a habit that could save your life.

For example, check to ensure there are no leaks. According to the FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook, fuel stains on the wings, along rivet lines (depending on type of tank), and anywhere fuel tanks are mounted could be a sign of a fuel leak. Oil could also leak, so checking seals and areas around the engine for signs of oil leaks is essential before each flight. In addition, check the quantity of all essential fluids, including fuel, not only to ensure the level is appropriate for the flight, but that it’s the quantity you expect.

A general walkaround also includes checking the tires and struts. Also, look at openings such as the fuel vent and pitot/static tube before each flight to ensure that the areas are clear of bugs that could get stuck there and induce instrument malfunction that causes erroneous readings that could lead to an in-flight emergency.

There are also more obvious items such as making sure the aircraft is untied and the cowl plugs are removed. Don’t laugh—such oversights do happen! A quick glance could save you money in aircraft repairs as well as lots of embarrassment.

Discuss with your flight instructor other “must check” items specific to your airplane, and keep those on your list for every preflight inspection regardless the length of your stop between flights. Also, why not conduct a brief postflight inspection? Recently, I detected a fuel leak after a simple walk around the aircraft before leaving the hangar. What would have happened if that leak had gone undetected and left unattended? We also detected a small oil leak near the oil transducer once we opened the cowling after a flight. A postflight inspection is now a habit of mine.