Over a span of 22 years, a lot can happen, up to and including forgetting important stuff. No need to taunt the guy for making a human mistake. Best we can do for him is give him the advice he so humbly and bravely asked for.
That said, an idea for the OP. This is how I've always done it and it's still no guarantee......but say you're building one and you do what you did. RIGHT THEN make a tag and put around the steering wheel "NO OIL" in whatever there's no oil in. That will greatly lessen the chances of this happening again. I know it doesn't help now, but maybe on down the road.
