Coupled With ‘Get-There-Itis,’ Fatigue Can Kill Pilots

Research has shown tiredness has the same effect on cognitive capabilities as alcohol.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Fatigue is an occupational hazard for pilots. [FLYING Archive]

Key Takeaways:

Pilot fatigue is a prevalent and dangerous occupational hazard, particularly for flight instructors working long, irregular hours, significantly impairing critical cognitive functions like decision-making and situational awareness to an extent comparable to alcohol.
Disruptions to circadian rhythms and pressures such as "get-there-itis" exacerbate fatigue, leading to increased risk of accidents and poor judgment.
The tragic 1996 Dubroff crash serves as a stark example of how fatigue, combined with external pressures and compromised decision-making, can lead to fatal consequences, highlighting the crucial need for pilots to prioritize rest and avoid flying when tired.

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“I looked over and he was sound asleep.”

That’s how an instrument candidate described an experience he had during a training flight at night. He was under the hood, and they were on an IFR flight plan and going in and out of the clouds. The candidate was confused by a radio call, and when he looked over at his CFI, he saw the man was asleep, so he quickly nudged him to wake him up. The CFI regained consciousness, but the event still rattled the student, who wondered how long the CFI had been “out.”