Why So Many CFITs?

Theres one undeniable constant in aviation: All accidents eventually terminate by contact with the surface of the planet. We have various ways of describing how that contact occurs, thus the somewhat oxymoronic phrase "controlled flight into terrain," or CFIT. This category of accident is an attempt to explain the unexplainable: why pilots so often fly perfectly functioning airplanes into the ground, killing themselves and all aboard. However anomalous the concept, the occurrence of CFIT is anything but. Pilots fly into the ground-terrain, trees, obstacles, water-nearly as often as they stall or lose basic control of the airplane. As we reported in our January 2010 article on the causes of fatal accidents, stalls lead the list, but CFIT is essentially tied for second, along with loss of control.

Key Takeaways:

• Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) is a significant and often "unexplainable" category of fatal aviation accidents, where pilots fly perfectly functional aircraft into the ground, ranking among the top causes alongside stalls and loss of control.
• The most common types of CFIT accidents identified are "scud running" (flying in marginal visual conditions near terrain), "low flying" for thrill or aerobatics, and striking obstacles during departure or arrival phases.
• Many CFIT incidents, particularly scud running and canyon crawls, are primarily attributed to poor pilot judgment and a failure to sense and avoid hazards related to terrain and obstacles, rather than a lack of basic aircraft control or misinterpretation of procedures.
• Pilots involved in CFITs are frequently non-instrument rated, or instrument-rated but not current, suggesting that a lack of advanced training or willingness to use appropriate flight procedures contributes to these accidents.

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