Why Low-Flying Fighter Planes Crash: Perceptual and Attentional Factors in Collisions with the Ground

Abstract

A detailed analysis of a recent jet fighter mishap is made in terms of perceptual and attentional factors that may have contributed to or caused the mishap. The crash occurred in clear air while the fighter was maneuvering over rugged terrain of irregular and unpredictable features. There were no mechanical failures and no evidence of pilot error. The analysis concentrates on the effects of the underinformativeness of the terrain; the difficulties of perceiving distance, ground clearance, and position under these conditions; the consequences of the high gravitational forces generated by the jet just prior to impact; and the competition for the pilot's visual attention. The effects of the combinations of these various factors are then considered. Finally, specific suggestions are made for improvements in training for low-altitude flight.