What is the likely cause of a pilot ignoring minimum fuel reserve requirements?

The most fitting reason a pilot might overlook minimum fuel reserve requirements is a lack of flight planning. Effective flight planning involves assessing fuel needs, considering potential diversions, and accounting for various eventualities that may arise during a flight. If a pilot fails to plan adequately for fuel, they may not take into account the necessary reserves, which can lead to potentially dangerous situations. This failure in preparation can stem from inadequate understanding of how fuel consumption works during various phases of flight or underestimating the necessity of maintaining a reserve.

While overconfidence, disregard for regulations, and acute fatigue might also contribute to unsafe practices, these factors are more psychological or situational responses rather than directly tied to the practical process of flight planning. Ignoring minimum fuel reserves due to a lack of planning emphasizes the importance of thoroughly preparing for a flight to ensure safety measures are in place.