John Doe wrote:

I'd best most pilots would get into the "I can save it" mentality until
they're too low to deploy the parachute, then, when they finally realize
that they can't recover or safely land the plane they pull the handle only
to get a partial deployment before impact.

This was one of the theories surrounding the fatal Cirrus spin crash in
upstate NY back in 2002, although the 'chute was still packed in the
burning aircraft when the police arrived.

--
Peter