Changing trends in fatal spatial disorientation accidents in general aviation

Spatial disorientation (SD) is a well-known risk factor across aviation operations but is a particular risk within general aviation (GA). While previous work has examined historical rates of SD related accidents in GA, modern analyses of SD accidents that account for overall changes to the GA environment are limited.

The current analysis investigates recent trends from 2003 to 2021 in SD GA fatal accidents and compares these trends to historical analyses, while incorporating context about changes to the overall GA landscape.

While fatal SD GA accidents rates and overall GA accident rates have declined since previous analyses in the 1990s, the percent fatality associated with SD (94 %) remains remarkedly high. Demographics of pilots involved in these accidents include mostly pilots with less than 500 h of flight time, similar to previous analyses, but the current trends are pointing to a slightly older pilot population, most commonly in the age 60-69 age range. Further, an increase in positive toxicology findings in fatal SD GA accidents is described in the current data, with a quarter of all SD GA accidents involving a positive toxicology finding for a potentially impairing substance. Finally, changes to the type of aircraft available may underlie a portion of recent trends associated with SD-related fatal GA accidents.

Overall, these findings highlight the importance of increased and targeted awareness and education efforts for the changing trends in spatial disorientation in general aviation, particularly given the high fatality rates associated with its occurrence.

Spatial disorientation continues to be a high-risk factor for fatal accidents in general aviation. Education and awareness campaigns centered around spatial disorientation could use these findings to target the current trends in SD accidents, and highlight the interaction between potentially impairing substances and SD.