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NTSB4 sections

NTSB Safety Alert SA-013 - Controlled Flight Into Terrain in Visual Conditions

Reproduced for study. Always verify against the official GACAR at gaca.gov.sa.

Ask Captain Adel about this

Controlled Flight Into Terrain in Visual Conditions

Nighttime Visual Flight Operations Are

Resulting in Avoidable Accidents

The problem

 NTSB investigations have identified several accidents that involved controlled flight into

terrain (CFIT) by both instrument flight rules (IFR) -rated and visual flight rules (VFR)

pilots operating under visual flight conditions at night in remote areas.

 In many of these cases, the pilots were in contact with air traffic control (ATC) at the time

of the accident and re ceiving radar service.

 The pilots and controllers involved all appear to have been unaware that the aircraft were

in danger.

 Increased altitude awareness and better preflight planning would likely have prevented

all of these accidents.

o A Learjet departed Brown Field, south of San Diego, California, and struck terrain

while being radar vectored in a mountainous area east of the airport, resulting in

three fatalities.

o A Piper Saratoga departed Bakersfield, California, en route to Santa Barbara,

California, descended from 8,500 feet to 6,500 feet , and collided with a 6,700 -foot

peak, resulting in two fatalities.

o A Beech -Raytheon King Air struck a 5,700 -foot ridge while descending on a visual

approach to Bozeman, Montana, resulting in three fatalities.

o A Piper Cherokee collided with trees and terrain at 2,800 feet while descending

for landing at Winchester, Virginia, killing all three occupants.

o A Beech -Raytheon King Air struck terrain at the 11,700 -foot level of the Rocky

Mountains while descending southwest o f Alamosa, Colorado, resulting in three

fatalities.

o A Cessna 182 departed Las Vegas, Nevada, and struck an 8,400 -foot mountain at

the 7,000 -foot level about 12 miles southwest of the city, resulting in two fatalities.

SA-013 January 2008 , revised December 2015

How can pilots avoid becoming invol ved in a similar accident?

 CFIT accidents are best avoided through proper preflight planning.

 Terrain familiarization is critical to safe visual operations at night. Use sectional charts or

other topographic references to ensure that your altitude will s afely clear terrain and

obstructions all along your route.

 In remote areas, especially in overcast or moonless conditions, be aware that darkness

may render visual avoidance of high terrain nearly impossible and that the absence of

ground lights may result in loss of horizon reference.

 When planning a nighttime VFR flight, follow IFR practices such as climbing on a known

safe course until well above surrounding terrain. Choose a cruising altitude that provides

terrain separation similar to IFR flights (2,00 0 feet above ground level in mountainous

areas and 1,000 feet above the ground in other areas.)

 When receiving radar services, do not depend on air traffic controllers to warn you of

terrain hazards. Although controllers will try to warn pilots if they not ice a hazardous

situation, they may not always be able to recognize that a particular VFR aircraft is

dangerously close to terrain.

 When issued a heading along with an instruction to “maintain VFR,” be aware that the

heading may not provide adequate terrai n clearance. If you have any doubt about your

ability to visually avoid terrain and obstacles, advise ATC immediately and take action to

reach a safe altitude if necessary.

 ATC radar software can provide limited prediction and warning of terrain hazards, b ut the

warning system is configured to protect IFR flights and is normally suppressed for VFR

aircraft. Controllers can activate the warning system for VFR flights upon pilot request,

but it may produce numerous false alarms for aircraft operating below th e minimum

instrument altitude —especially in en route center airspace.

 For improved night vision, the FAA recommends the use of supplemental oxygen for

flights above 5,000 feet.

 If you fly at night, especially in remote or unlit areas, consider whether a gl obal

positioning system -based terrain awareness unit would improve your safety of flight.

Need more information?

 NTSB safety r ecommendation letter issued as a result of minimum safe altitude warning and ATC awareness issues:

http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety -recs/recletters/A06_44_47.pdf

 NTSB Aircraft Accident Brief, LAX05FA015, N30DK, Controlled Flight Into Terrain, October 4, 2004:

http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAB0605.pdf

 NTSB Aircraft Accident Brief, LAX05FA032, N803ZG, November 10, 2004:

http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20041119X01844&key=1&queryId=b51be794 -