The most "fate-tempting" thing I've heard on a cockpit voice recording was when a pilot joked with a flight attendant (while still on the ground): "We always ask about the dating habits of our flight attendants so that we get it on the recorder, in case we crash, then the media would have some kind of [inaudible]". Flight attendant: "Oh, is that right? Is that what that is?" Pilot: "We got to leave something for our wives and children to listen to."
A few minutes later the aircraft crashed during take-off. The pilot had forgotten to lower the flaps (perhaps because he was too busy kidding around with the flight attendant?). Delta Air Lines Flight 1141.
