Candian Air Force Studies have shown that 24% of their accidents in VFR conditions are related to spatial disorientation.
Previous slide | Next slide | Back to the index | View Graphic Version |
In my judgment, illusions are most important in causing the accidents that occur close to the ground. First, because the ground is full of visual cues, many of which may accidentally give false perspective, or our expectations of size or shape may mislead us. Second, because close to the ground we have so much less time to recover from an error while gravity sucks us into the indurated breast of Mother Earth.
The most hazardous event in the regard is the turn, as this stimulates vestibular illusions. the lowest turn is the turn from base to final, hence this is associated with the most approach to landing accidents.
The JFKjr is a classic VFR accident