On Dec 1, 6:55 am, w3n-a wrote:

Common errors in the performance of straight-andlevel flight a

Attempting to use improper reference points on the airplane to
establish attitude.
Forgetting the location of preselected reference points on subsequent
flights.
Attempting to establish or correct airplane attitude using flight
instruments rather than outside visual reference.
Attempting to maintain direction using only rudder control.
Habitually flying with one wing low.
"Chasing" the flight instruments rather than adhering to the
principles of attitude flying.
Too tight a grip on the flight controls resulting in overcontrol and
lack of feel.
Pushing or pulling on the flight controls rather than exerting
pressure against the airstream.
Improper scanning and/or devoting insufficient time to outside visual
reference. (Head in the cockpit.)
Fixation on the nose (pitch attitude) reference point.
Unnecessary or inappropriate control inputs.
Failure to make timely and measured control inputs when deviations
from straight-and-level flight are detected.
Inadequate attention to sensory inputs in developing feel for the
airplane.

And add to the top of that list: Incorrect trimming procedure.
After the climb, level the airplane using the YOKE, not the trim. Wait
for the target speed, then set the power. THEN trim to remove control
pressure. Some more powerful craft will need a bit of trim adjustment
while waiting for the speed, but most pilots who have trouble
establishing and maintaining an altitude are leveling off while
simultaneously reducing power and then trimming immediately. The
airplane's speed then continues to creep up, which raises the nose and
screws up the altitude and the pilot then trims some more. Then he
finds that the RPM has crept up too (fixed-pitch) since the AOA on the
prop has dropped, so he reduces that and the nose falls and the
airplane descends. The whole trip is spent climbing and diving. It's
easily the most common mistake I find in the circuit and on cross-
countries.

Dan