Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight...
Transcript of Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight...
![Page 1: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
1
Alaskan Aviation
Fall Safety Seminar Anchorage
Nov 15, 2014
Flying at Night
Don’t Get Caught in the Dark!
Dale Wilson, Professor
Department of Aviation
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA
![Page 2: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Eastern Air Lines Flight 401,
Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972
American Airlines Flight 965, B-757,
Dec 1995
2
*
![Page 3: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
•National Safety Council motor-
vehicle fatality rate three times
higher at night than during the
day.
•3X to 4X times higher at night
• NTSB Safety Alerts 2008 and
2013 3
![Page 4: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Flying at Night:
Don’t be Caught in the Dark!
Ground Operations
Takeoff & Climb
Enroute/Cruise
Approach & Landing
--Landing Illusions
4
![Page 5: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Ground Operations
Takeoff & Climb
Enroute/Cruise
Approach & Landing
--Landing Illusions
Flying at Night:
Don’t be Caught in the Dark!
5
![Page 6: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Ground Operations
Reduced Taxi Speed Illusion
• early B747 incidents
• reduced “optic flow” at night
6
![Page 7: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Ground Operations
Geographic Disorientation
• getting “lost” easier at unfamiliar airport
• “sea-of-blue” effect
7
![Page 8: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Ground Operations
U.S. Runway Incursion Accidents 1990s
• 5/6 major RIs after dark (dusk) in VFR Wx
• 1991 USAir B737 on landing collided with Metro
- 34 people died (worst in US to date)
8
![Page 9: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Ground Operations
Runway Incursion Accidents
• all of these occurred at night in good
VFR conditions!
• RI accidents occur in impoverished
visual conditions - fog, night, or both
• NTSB’s “Ten Most Wanted” list 1990-2013
9
![Page 10: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Ground Operations
Takeoff & Climb
Enroute/Cruise
Approach & Landing
--Landing Illusions
Flying at Night:
Don’t be Caught in the Dark!
10
![Page 11: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Lining Up
• Comair CRJ Flight 5191, 2006 Blue Gras AP, KY
11
![Page 12: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Lining Up
• 116 reports 20-year period of pilots
taking off from wrong runway
• B737 reached 60 knots on taxiway
FOXTROT before RTO at Phoenix Sky
Harbor airport
• MD-80 initially attempted takeoff in Las
Vegas using runway edge lights as
centerline lights!
12
![Page 13: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Takeoff & Climb
Takeoff into “Black Hole”
• no lights ahead of you - pitch black
- moonless and/or overcast sky
• 78% fatal night takeoff accidents
occur on “dark nights”
13
![Page 14: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Takeoff & Climb
False Climb (Somatogravic)
Illusion
• somatosensory/vestibular senses
give nose-high illusion
- leads to nose-down response
14
![Page 15: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Somatogravic Illusion
Constant
speed
Gravity
Level attitude
Correct
Perception
of Level attitude
Accelerating
Nose-high
Illusion
Level attitude
Resultant Gravity
Inertia
15
![Page 16: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Takeoff & Climb
The “Dark-Night Takeoff Accident”
• 1996 Part 135 cargo C-402 collided with ground
• 1995 Beech 58 flew into dark water of Lake Erie
• 2003 Cessna 340 in Bishop, CA
• all occurred in VMC on “dark nights”
• known of this for at least 50 years, yet still occurs
16
![Page 17: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
17
Flying at night is no
different than flying in
the day
. .except you can’t
see anything!
![Page 18: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Ground Operations
Takeoff & Climb
En route/Cruise
Approach & Landing
--Landing Illusions
Flying at Night:
Don’t be Caught in the Dark!
18
![Page 19: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Enroute/Cruise
Weather Detection
• 35% of VFR-into-IMC accidents at
night (vs.10% VFR GA activity)
• Almost 90% fatal yet <20% of all
accidents fatal
19
![Page 20: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Enroute/Cruise
Terrain Detection
• 1972, EAL L-1011, Florida Everglades
• 1995, AA B-757, Cali Columbia
• 1991 near San Diego, Reba
McEntire’s HS 125
• 2004 air ambulance Learjet
• Darkness one link in causal chain 20
![Page 21: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
21
Night Light Illusions
• Ground lights seen
as stars and vice-
versa
![Page 22: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
False horizons
22
![Page 23: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
23
Autokinetic illusion
• False perception of a fixed object
moving
• Common with stars
Air Canada B767 pilot mistook the planet Venus for Cargo plane
![Page 24: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Enroute/Cruise
Geographic Disorientation
• GA “landing at wrong airport” incidents
25% at night
• >150 airline flights since early 90s landed or
attempted to, at wrong airport
24
![Page 25: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Ground Operations
Takeoff & Climb
Enroute/Cruise
Approach & Landing
--Landing Illusions
Flying at Night:
Don’t be Caught in the Dark!
25
![Page 26: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
26
![Page 27: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
27
![Page 28: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
• 39% U.K. fatal approach/landing
accidents at night
–nighttime rate 3X that for day
• US Navy/Marine Corps significantly
greater incidence of landing mishaps
during evening/night
• ½ of world’s CFIT accidents occur at
night
–70% of during approach-to-landing
phase
28
![Page 29: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Approach & Landing
Runway Identification
• 1992 DC-8 mistook army barrack lights for
runway
• Same mistake made by B707 crew 9 mos later
• China Northern MD80 mistook highway for
runway
• All these occurred in clear Wx at night! 29
![Page 30: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
30
Visual Illusions
on Approach and Landing
What you see
is NOT always
what you get!
A visual Illusion is a
misperception of visual reality
![Page 31: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Expectancy
Sometimes we see what we
want to see
USAF pilots shoot down 2 of their
own helicopters
German pilot bombs its own ship
31
![Page 32: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
32
Geometric Illusions Many catalogued by artists & physiologists
a century ago
![Page 33: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
33
Muller-Lyer Illusion.
Which line is longer—
AB or CD? A
B
C
D
![Page 34: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
34
Poggendorf Illusion
Is the diagonal line
straight?
![Page 35: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
35
Ponzo Illusion.
Which horizontal line is longer—
top or bottom?
![Page 36: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
36
![Page 37: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
37
Visual Illusions
• Illusions trick us into seeing
something that isn’t there
• Flight illusions occur relatively
infrequently but consequences often
fatal—by definition they . . .
deceive us into believing
everything looks fine
![Page 38: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
38
Landing Illusions
1. Runway Slope/Dimensions
2. Atmospheric & Runway Lighting
Conditions
3. Black-Hole Conditions
![Page 39: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
39
Sloped Runways • Pilots judge approach angle by familiar trapezoidal
shape the runway image casts upon their retina
![Page 40: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
40
• Illusion: low approach
• Result: you adjust approach angle to see normal
approach image you’re used to
• Result: high approach, go-around or long landing
& overrun or even stall above runway
![Page 41: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
41
• Illusion: high approach
• Result: you adjust approach angle to see normal
approach image you’re used to
• Result: low approach, premature hard landing or
CFIT accident short of runway
![Page 42: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
42
Upsloped Runways • Deceives both novice and expert pilots
–CAI B767 crew fooled by upsloping runway in Halifax (0.77% upslope) despite mostly red PAPI lights!
![Page 43: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
Runway Dimensions
• Relative size
• object of known size casts a
smaller image on our retina, we
rightly perceive it as further
away not shrinking in size
43
![Page 44: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
44
Same runway but smaller
retinal image on right.
Right one further away.
![Page 45: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
Runway Dimensions
• Problems occur when not aware of actual
size
• High rear-end accident rate for smaller
foreign cars when first introduced
– Drivers mistook them for larger cars
that were further away
• Same illusion with varying-sized runways
• Illusion strengthened when L/W ratio
same as runway pilot is accustomed to
45
![Page 46: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
46
• Smaller than accustomed to
runway (same L/W)
•illusion of being further away
•if perceived as higher, a low
approach &/or late (low) flare-
out and premature hard landing
may result
• Larger than accustomed to
runway (same L/W)
•illusion of being closer
•if perceived as lower, a high
approach & long landing and/or
high flare out & possible stall
above runway may result
Two different runways, same
proportions (L/W)
![Page 47: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
Runway Dimensions
• Factors which strengthen
distance illusion
–Same L/W ratio (proportions)
–Little or no surrounding context
(terrain, man-made features,
etc) such as occurs at night
–The home-drome syndrome
47
![Page 48: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
48
Which looks like you are higher?
![Page 49: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
49
High approach illusion on runway with greater “L/W ratio” than pilot used to
L/W ratio increases with longer +/or narrower runways
Student pilot accustomed to L/W of about 30, hit truck on L/W 70 runway at Sylvania Airport, Wisconsin
![Page 50: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/50.jpg)
2. Atmospheric Conditions • Aerial (Atmospheric) Perspective
–Extremely clear air creates illusion of
being closer (cold, dry, winter, high
mountains)
–Poor visibility & hazy air creates illusion
of being further away
50
![Page 51: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/51.jpg)
Extremely clear air (especially at
night) can create illusion of closeness
leading pilot to underestimate
distance. Could result in a higher or
lower approach, depending on how
this is perceived by pilot
Hazy days can lead a pilot to
overestimate a runway’s distance
which could result in a higher or lower
approach, depending on how this
distance illusion is perceived by the
pilot
51
![Page 52: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/52.jpg)
52
Brighter-than-normal
runway lights look clearer,
larger and closer creating
illusion of being close
Relative Brightness
![Page 53: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/53.jpg)
53
Dimmer-than-normal
runway lights look darker,
smaller and further away
creating illusion of being
further away
![Page 54: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/54.jpg)
54
3. Black Hole Approach
• Dark nights (moonless +/or
overcast sky condition) when little
or no surface lights between aircraft
and runway environment
• Results in dangerously low
approach and has claimed the lives
of many pilots
![Page 55: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/55.jpg)
55
Black Hole Approach
–Sabreliner corporate jet on a visual
approach to Kaunakakai Airport in
Hawaii
–Part 135 C402 flew into water 3 miles
short St. Thomas Airport U.S. Virgin
Islands
–Both highly experienced pilots (ATP-
rated) > 12,000 hours each
![Page 56: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/56.jpg)
56
FEDEX Blackhole Approach
July 26, 2002, Boeing
727 struck trees on
short final and
crashed short of
runway 9 at
Tallahassee Regional
Airport Florida
![Page 57: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/57.jpg)
57
Black Hole Approach
• Kraft and Elworths’ Boeing
simulator studies in 1960’s – in absence of a horizon at night, pilots
tend to fly curved approach in attempt to
keep a constant visual angle between
the threshold lights and surface lights
beyond the airport
![Page 58: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/58.jpg)
58
Same Approach Angle = Increasing “Visual Angle”
![Page 59: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/59.jpg)
59
Kraft and Elworths’
Constant Visual Angle Hypothesis
Constant Visual Angle = Curved Approach
![Page 60: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/60.jpg)
60
• Strengthened by upsloped runway – Hawaiian Saberliner and B767 tail strike in
Halifax involved upsloped runway in black-hole conditions
– A high approach retinal image adds to black hole phenomenon
• Boeing instructor pilots conducted entirely visual approaches to upsloping runway in black-hole conditions without aid of ILS or altimeter
– eleven of the twelve crashed short of the runway!
![Page 61: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/61.jpg)
61
Most visual illusions are not due to the
physiological limitations inherent in the
human eye. The image on the retina doesn’t
lie, but the perceptual interpretation of it does
![Page 62: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/62.jpg)
62
How many cubes?
![Page 63: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/63.jpg)
63
How many on
this one?
![Page 64: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/64.jpg)
64
Do you see the white triangle?
![Page 65: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/65.jpg)
65
How about the white square?
![Page 66: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/66.jpg)
66
Which way is Cube oriented?
Ambiguous visual stimuli at night
![Page 67: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/67.jpg)
67
Which way is the cube oriented?
Our brains try to impose order by trying
to match a pattern that it is familiar with
![Page 68: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/68.jpg)
Risk
Probability X Consequences
68
![Page 69: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/69.jpg)
• “dark night” takeoffs
• VFR-into-IMC+/or terrain at night
• “black hole” approaches
• fatal approach and landing accidents 4X
greater risk at night
Consequences
• “dark night” takeoffs
• majority of VFR-into-IMC & CFIT fatal
• consequences of engine failure in SE airplane
Probability
69
![Page 70: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/70.jpg)
70
Strategies to Help You Avoid Falling
Victim to Landing Illusions
• Believe they exist & can deceive you into fine
-- that is why they are called illusions!
• ALL of us are subject to illusions
• Understand the nature of these illusions
• Knowing about them isn’t enough
– CFI in tree-strike incident well aware of the black hole
illusion—that is why he elected to fly the approach!
– As he hit the trees he was “consciously aware of the
illusion and trying to correct for it”
• Don’t completely trust your senses—double
check your own perception
![Page 71: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/71.jpg)
71
Strategies to Avoid Falling Victim
Departure
• Allow enough time to dark-adapt (avoid bright
lights)
• Don’t stare at taxiway centerline when taxiing
• Use A/P taxi diagram (consider progressive
taxi instructions)
• Perform “compass check” on every takeoff
• Depart over well-lit terrain
• Use instruments until outside visual cues
established
![Page 72: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/72.jpg)
En Route/Cruise
• Fly over well-lit terrain(cultural or
natural)
• Fly at minimum safe altitudes (MEF,
min IFR altitudes)
• Don’t fly in the mountains
72
![Page 73: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/73.jpg)
Approach & Landing
• Determine beforehand if airport
conducive to landing illusions
– Consult A/FD, NOTAMS, other pilots, to
ascertain presence of irregular-shaped
runways, sloped runways or terrain, or
runways conducive to black-hole
conditions
73
![Page 74: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/74.jpg)
74
Strategies to Avoid Falling Victim
• Get instruction at airports conducive
to illusions (experience reduces home-drome
syndrome)
• Avoid long straight-in approaches – almost always result in a premature decent,
especially at night
– consider overflying airport before conducting
an approach
![Page 75: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/75.jpg)
75
Strategies to Avoid Falling Victim
• Use runway approach slope indicator
aids—especially at night – VASI, PLASI, PAPI, T-VASI, etc.
– visible ≥ 20 miles, safe obstruction clearance
only up to +/-10° of extended centerline to 4
NM from threshold
![Page 76: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/76.jpg)
76
![Page 77: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/77.jpg)
77
![Page 78: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/78.jpg)
78
• Supplement outside visual cues with
cockpit aids to vision
–Glide path information such as an
ILS or DME/Altimeter
– 3° glide slope ~300’ AGL / NM from threshold
– 4° glide slope ~400’ AGL / NM from threshold
– 5° glide slope ~500’ AGL / NM from threshold
– a 300, 400, or 500 feet per minute descent at
60-knot groundspeed yields a 3°, 4° or 5°
glide slope
![Page 79: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/79.jpg)
79
![Page 80: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/80.jpg)
80
Visual illusions have duped
too many pilots
“Seeing can indeed be Deceiving”
Learning all you can about landing
illusions and the steps necessary to
correct for them will keep you from
being fooled
![Page 81: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/81.jpg)
81
![Page 82: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/82.jpg)
www.ASA2fly.com Chap 7 “Don’t Be Caught in the Dark”
Chap 8 “What You See Is Not Always
What You Get”
82
![Page 84: Flying at Night...Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Lockheed L-1011, Dec 1972 American Airlines Flight 965, B-757, Dec 1995 2 *](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051805/5ff59dd0bd1d31334a68930e/html5/thumbnails/84.jpg)
84
Thank You! Dale Wilson
Department of Aviation
Central Washington University
400 East University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7515
Phone: 509/963-2298
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.cwu.edu/aviation