Aviation Accidents Due to Spatial Disorientation and Positional Illusions over the Period from 2009 to 2013

Abstract

Data from questioning 440 pilots was used to estimate the rate of positional illusions (PIs) in flight, to identify the predisposing conditions and factors, and to understand their effect on the quality of piloting. Statistics of aviation accidents (AAs) as an aftermath of spatial disorientation were analyzed for a period from 2009 to 2013. In-flight PIs were experienced by 71% of the pilots. The AA rate was found to decrease from 16 to 8 per year over the observation period. The specific weight of SD as an AA cause grew from 13% in 2009 to 38% in 2013 in the Russian state aviation; and that of SD as a catastrophe cause, from 22% in 2009 to 60% in 2013. The mean SD specific weights in AAs and catastrophes were 15 and 31%, respectively. Data from the statistical analysis was used to classify the SD causes and factors.