Spatial Disorentation

Compounding VFR into IMC, spatial disorientation (SD) is often a contributing factor. More difficult to quantify, SD can lead to extreme reactions from pilots and confusion about the position of their aircraft. These reactions and loss of situational awareness worsen the outcomes and tend to lead pilots toward a fatal accident. Those who suffered from SD noted it happened quickly while adversely impacting their flying skills. One such ASRS report involved a pilot who flew into a lowering ceiling and noted the almost immediate effect a small, intentional turn had on his ability to control the aircraft. The feeling of spinning became so strong that the pilot thought he would lose control of the aircraft if the turn continued. This lucky pilot recognized the signs of SD, stopped the turn, and climbed successfully out of the cloud layer. Other pilots are not so lucky. NTSB accident data also shows SD where pilots were in descending steep turns up to their last known positions. An obvious sign of SD and loss of control, the textbook “graveyard spiral/spin” has claimed its fair share of lives over the years.

While many pilots can explain the mechanics behind a graveyard spiral/spin, they tend to misunderstand the severity and almost total incapacitation that causes pilots to enter these maneuvers. A true SD event is debilitating, and the ability to override the vestibular system may be impossible. To fully understand the effects of SD, it’s worth noting accidents where witnesses on the ground saw pilots flying VFR into IMC break out of—and then climb back into—the clouds. One might argue these pilots were so overwhelmed that only one suffering from incapacitation would reenter IMC once they went VFR. Some may contend that it was a response to the rapidly approaching ground, but such examples exist where pilots still have plenty of altitude to reorient themselves before attempting escape again. Since SD can be impairing, the rapid identification of its onset and the conditions that contribute to its formation are critical for pilots to avoid.