So I have spent a lot of time over the years thinking what could I have done differently. Any ideas? Could this have been prevented?
My last CFI up in Michigan was training me to be more or less instrument qualified before I was ready to solo. Then again, he took me along on business trips (he was a lawyer) so I just had to buy lunch in exchange for the lessons and the time building. I think more time teaching "emergency" situation resolution skills including how to fly either an ILS with vectors or a ground controlled approach should be included in the basic private pilot curriculum. Upset recovery/unusual attitude training should also be included even if it means farming the student out to an aerobatic instructor. That would be my approach if I were designing a training program.