The airplane’s fractured main spar showed classic signs of an overload.

By Ken Ibold

A little confidence can go a long way. That can be true for anything from belting out karaoke tunes in a country honky-tonk to selling your spouse on the wisdom of buying a new boat.

It’s also true that faith in one’s own ability is a primary pilot trait. Those who can’t trust themselves and their skills are soon relegated to passenger status. Or worse. …