Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Victoria Cornaro, Senior Molly Mersinger, Graduate student
Lead Presenter's Name
Victoria Cornaro
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Alex Chaparro
Abstract
The Impact of Environmental Contributing Factors in Spatial Disorientation and Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents Spatial disorientation (SD) is an inherent risk of flying and with a high risk of resulting in a fatal accident (Gibbs et al, 2011). SD related accidents occur when a pilot’s perception of the aircraft altitude, position, or relative motion conflict with reality (Benson, 1999). SD accidents are significantly more likely to result in a fatality than non-SD cases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of different contributing factors on SD and non-SD general aviation accidents. We used the NTSB database of aviation accidents reported in the United States and restricted our analysis to 12,200 comprehensive cases involving fixed wing general aviation aircraft. We evaluated the contribution of different factors such as lighting conditions, ceiling height, and weather conditions by comparing the relative frequency of appearance in SD and non-SD NTSB accident reports. Our analysis of SD and non-SD accidents, showed that SD accidents were more frequently associated with poorer lighting conditions, lower ceiling heights, reduced maximum visibility, and worse weather conditions. The results suggest that SD is more likely as weather deteriorates and the pilot's view of external environmental cues (e.g., ground or the horizon) allowing them to assess the aircraft's position and orientation are diminished.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Atmospheric Sciences Commons, Aviation Safety and Security Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons
The Impact of Environmental Contributing Factors in Spatial Disorientation and Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents
The Impact of Environmental Contributing Factors in Spatial Disorientation and Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents Spatial disorientation (SD) is an inherent risk of flying and with a high risk of resulting in a fatal accident (Gibbs et al, 2011). SD related accidents occur when a pilot’s perception of the aircraft altitude, position, or relative motion conflict with reality (Benson, 1999). SD accidents are significantly more likely to result in a fatality than non-SD cases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of different contributing factors on SD and non-SD general aviation accidents. We used the NTSB database of aviation accidents reported in the United States and restricted our analysis to 12,200 comprehensive cases involving fixed wing general aviation aircraft. We evaluated the contribution of different factors such as lighting conditions, ceiling height, and weather conditions by comparing the relative frequency of appearance in SD and non-SD NTSB accident reports. Our analysis of SD and non-SD accidents, showed that SD accidents were more frequently associated with poorer lighting conditions, lower ceiling heights, reduced maximum visibility, and worse weather conditions. The results suggest that SD is more likely as weather deteriorates and the pilot's view of external environmental cues (e.g., ground or the horizon) allowing them to assess the aircraft's position and orientation are diminished.