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 serious occupational hazard, especially for flight instructors, leading to impaired judgment, reduced reaction time, and decreased situational awareness, with effects comparable to alcohol.
Long work hours, irregular shifts, and circadian rhythm disruption are major contributors to pilot fatigue, significantly increasing the risk of poor decision-making and aviation accidents.
The article uses personal anecdotes of CFIs falling asleep in flight and details the tragic 1996 Dubroff crash to illustrate how fatigue, coupled with external pressures like "get-there-itis" and media commitments, can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
Pilots are urged to prioritize adequate rest and recognize the signs of fatigue, emphasizing that choosing to stay on the ground when tired is crucial for safety.

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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.”