Accident analysis: CFIT

What is CFIT in aviation?

In July of 2021, a Beechcraft G36 Bonanza was destroyed in an accident near Aspen, Colorado. The two pilots aboard the plane had landed at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport that day to refuel and have lunch. They had flown in from Napa, CA, using Aspen as the go-between for their final destination of the day, Des Moines, Iowa. Everything was seemingly fine, but when a friend reported them overdue at their destination airport, local Colorado authorities launched a search for the Bonanza.

Prior to taking off from Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, the pilots received ground control's clearance for an instrument flight rules plan, the NTSB report said. Yet they abandoned that departure plan because it required the single-engine aircraft to climb to an elevation of 16,000 feet and as high as 17,000, the report said. The pilot then requested a visual flight rules departure and provided his own navigation. “The pilot responded that they could not accept 16,000 feet, which was required for the departure procedure, and would instead depart using visual flight rules,” the report said.

After taking off, the aircraft circled around Aspen while gaining altitude. When passing through 10,100 feet, the pilots informed the tower that they would depart to the east. When the flight was 5 miles east of the airport, the tower controller informed them that they were leaving ASE airspace and approved a frequency change. The pilot asked the tower controller to recommend a frequency, however, the tower controller did not respond. The flight continued to the east and southeast. Less than 15 minutes into the flight, the plane crashed.

While attempting to navigate over mountainous terrain on a cross-country flight, the pilot flew the airplane into a canyon with high mountains. Data indicated that the pilot likely attempted to fly out of the canyon. The airplane impacted trees and rising terrain and was destroyed by impact forces and a post-impact fire. Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) is one of the top three causes of general aviation accidents, claiming up to 17% of all general aviation fatalities, according to the FAA.

The most common reason for CFIT is pilot error, usually due to a loss of situational awareness. When a pilot is spatially disoriented, they become unsure or mistaken about the aircraft’s position in relation to the surrounding terrain. Degraded situational awareness, particularly a lack of understanding of the aircraft’s geographical position and attitude, can lead to poor decision-making and mistakes. Additionally, when experiencing fatigue, distraction, or disorientation, even highly experienced pilots can make mistakes.

Reference

file:///C:/Users/moles/Downloads/Report_CEN21FA305_103412_3_16_2023%2010_51_07%20PM.pdf