# Perception/orientation/illusion - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Psychological](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0202) › Perception/orientation/illusion - NTSB code: 020220 - Cases: 601 - In the probable cause: 560 - Fatal cases: 412 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020220/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020220/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020220 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 36 / 39 - 2009: 37 / 40 - 2010: 33 / 33 - 2011: 36 / 37 - 2012: 30 / 32 - 2013: 32 / 34 - 2014: 24 / 26 - 2015: 40 / 44 - 2016: 28 / 30 - 2017: 45 / 46 - 2018: 30 / 32 - 2019: 43 / 44 - 2020: 20 / 25 - 2021: 35 / 36 - 2022: 25 / 29 - 2023: 29 / 33 - 2024: 19 / 21 - 2025: 16 / 18 - 2026: 2 / 2 ## Findings - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025): 358 cases, 345 in the probable cause - [Situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): 111 cases, 105 in the probable cause - [Perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): 61 cases, 48 in the probable cause - [Visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): 51 cases, 42 in the probable cause - [Geographic disorient (lost)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030): 27 cases, 25 in the probable cause - [Perception/orientation/illusion, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022000): 8 cases, 7 in the probable cause - [Temporal disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022020): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 228 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 95 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 63 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 41 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 23 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 19 cases - [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 16 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 12 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 10 cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 9 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 19 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 16 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 12 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 10 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 9 cases - [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20): 8 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 7 cases - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 7 cases - [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300): 6 cases - [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2): 5 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 276 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 209 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 147 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 127 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 85 cases - [Below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075) (Environmental issues): 81 cases - [Low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015) (Environmental issues): 60 cases - [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010) (Environmental issues): 58 cases - [Clouds](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025) (Environmental issues): 53 cases - [Total instrument experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031030) (Personnel issues): 34 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN26LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA128), Mar 1, 2026: Air Tractor AT-502 (N5063N), Larose, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper fuel planning and his failure to adequately monitor the fuel level during flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the… - [NTSB ANC26LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA011), Jan 25, 2026: Cessna 150K (N6333G), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s unintentional selection of the wrong, snow-covered landing surface, which resulted in a nose-over. - [NTSB DCA26LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA047), Nov 29, 2025: Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR (N317TB), Chicago, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: United Airlines flight crew’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the parked Envoy Airlines airplane while taxiing in winter weather conditions. - [NTSB WPR26LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA053), Nov 10, 2025: Tecnam P2008 (N208CM), Blackfoot, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain altitude and clearance from trees while maneuvering at night. - [NTSB CEN26LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA036), Nov 5, 2025: Air Tractor AT-502 (N7315L), Gueydan, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness and clearance from terrain while maneuvering to avoid birds. - [NTSB CEN25LA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA356), Sep 1, 2025: Sikorsky S-76 (N36RP), Round Mountain, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s failure to properly identify the heliport in dark night conditions, which resulted in the flight crew attempting to land and a subsequent impact with trees and terrain. - [NTSB ANC25LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA083), Aug 2, 2025: Aviat A-1B (N900HY), Chisana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. - [NTSB ANC25LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA082), Aug 2, 2025: Cessna U206F (N206GR), Yakutat, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance during approach in gusting wind conditions to a remote airstrip, resulting in a collision with brush. - [NTSB ANC25LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA081), Aug 1, 2025: Cessna 208B (N645AT), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue an unstabilized approach, which resulted in a landing touchdown with insufficient runway remaining and a subsequent runway overrun and a collision with a fence. - [NTSB ANC25LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA067), Jul 3, 2025: Rockwell International 690B (N690AX), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control during takeoff resulting in a gear-up landing on the runway. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s momentary distraction from within the airplane. NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.