What is CFIT? Controlled Flight into Terrain

What is CFIT?

Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) occurs when an airplane under the control of a pilot is inadvertently flown into terrain, water, or an obstacle with inadequate awareness on the part of the pilot of the coming disaster.

CFIT Accidents occur most frequently in GA operations, comprising 4.7% of all GA accidents and 32% of GA accidents in IMC. On average there are 1.4 fatalities per CFIT accident, versus 0.33 fatalities per GA accident overall.

Aircraft Accidents caused by CFIT (Controlled Flight into Terrain), are one of the accidents affecting the world in general aviation, usually is as a result of flying into IMC, on or a visual flight (VFR).

According to the statistics, 80% of all CFIT Accidents are involved in general aviation aircraft, with a fatal consequence in 75% of cases.

Generally there are two major accidents profiles after the Pilot get in to inadvertent entrance into IMC on VFR flight.

• Loss of Control: the loss of the spatial orientation by the pilot after inadvertently entering into clouds. Disoriented without visual references and inexperienced in instrument flight, lose control during the flight.

• Final Unexpected: the pilot inadvertently enters into clouds without following an instrument flight plan, usually after trying to maintain visual below the ceiling until the increasing and the pilot try to stay below the layer cloud. The pilot tries to reach an area with higher ceilings regardless of the terrain ahead and just colliding with the mountain in a level flight attitude and high speed.

               17% of all GA fatalities are due to CFIT.

                CFIT accidents are fatal 58% of the time.

                CFIT accidents occur 64% of the time in daytime and 36% at night.

                51% of CFIT accidents occur in IMC, 48% in VMC and 1% unknown.

                Impacted terrain was flat 45% and mountainous 55%.

My best advice to all pilots, be alert when transition from VFR to IFR safety; and avoid equipment problems, air controller error, or your own complacency.

Constantly use all the most effective aviation safety tools available inside the cockpit, also always controlling Pilot Error" , the causes of up to 80 % of aviation accidents – are pilot mistakes.

Read and study related CFIT Accidents, respected "Save Yourself" techniques and safety tips; and clear and stay away and be concise as a Safety Pilot all the time.

Keep in mind, most CFIT accidents occur under or adjacent to the intermediate or final approach path.

The importance of GPWS and MSAWS (Minimum Safe Altitude Warning Systems) needs to be clarified. Both systems have been designed to provide alerts and warnings.

Training in procedures that include all appropriate points described above will help promote a healthy ‘CFIT Avoidance’ attitude.

Good Crew Co-Operation and development and excellent (CRM) Crew Resource Management.

 Crews must then be trained in their use and understand the concept of CFIT.

CFIT Accidents and Incidents that might have turned into CFIT accidents continue to occur and remain a cause for concern. Always fly safely your airplane.

The risk of CFIT cannot be left to back-up systems such as GPWS and MSAWS to solve the problem , but it can be reduced if all flight crew members are given well thought out the procedures to pay the attention needed , are properly trained in their use, and apply them carefully.

Pilots and Operators are refreshed to review their procedures for ‘CFIT Avoidance’ content and explanation  as  I described above writing this words to share with the community   and to make sure that, once established as appropriate and review , they are applied in all operations to fly safely all the time , particularly Crews who fly in to terrain conditions.(Example South American Region etc.)

My personal observation in this post is only issued for information and the prevention of incidents and accidents in General and Commercial Aviation, leadership it is very important during your flight.

Be Safe all the time, and Do it safely