Originally Posted by
CDTraveler
Where is the line drawn between "negligence" and "violating a specific rule?" I can see a huge grey area in the middle - if that indicator light comes on and you ignore it, is that negligence? What if you think you know better and you're wrong? Do (in the US) FAA rules require that a pilot take action if warning light X comes on?
Unless there is a specific law making it a crime to fly a plane with an indicator light on, I don't think a pilot could be prosecuted for it criminally. It could still be used to establish the airline's liability in a civil case.