# Spatial disorientation - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Psychological](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0202) › [Perception/orientation/illusion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020220) › Spatial disorientation - NTSB code: 02022025 - Cases: 358 - In the probable cause: 345 - Fatal cases: 334 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 19 / 19 - 2009: 24 / 26 - 2010: 20 / 20 - 2011: 21 / 21 - 2012: 20 / 22 - 2013: 22 / 24 - 2014: 15 / 15 - 2015: 22 / 23 - 2016: 16 / 16 - 2017: 26 / 26 - 2018: 21 / 21 - 2019: 37 / 37 - 2020: 11 / 12 - 2021: 26 / 27 - 2022: 12 / 13 - 2023: 19 / 21 - 2024: 13 / 13 - 2025: 1 / 2 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 208 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 85 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 28 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 16 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 4 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 3 cases - [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 3 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 3 cases - [Inflight upset](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271): 2 cases - [Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270): 2 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 17 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 10 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 8 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 8 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 6 cases - [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t): 5 cases - [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300): 5 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 5 cases - [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20): 5 cases - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 5 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 218 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 156 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 120 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 100 cases - [Below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075) (Environmental issues): 70 cases - [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010) (Environmental issues): 54 cases - [Low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015) (Environmental issues): 53 cases - [Clouds](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025) (Environmental issues): 50 cases - [Total instrument experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031030) (Personnel issues): 32 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 28 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA25FA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA143), Mar 14, 2025: Raytheon A36 (N566C), Greenville, NC, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control shortly after climbing into instrument meteorological conditions due to spatial disorientation (somatogyral illusion). - [NTSB ERA25FA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA119), Feb 14, 2025: Cessna 208 (N40EA), Pierson, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of control. - [NTSB ERA25LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA087), Dec 19, 2024: Cessna 172K (N7085G), Southport, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation, and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision, which resulted in the subsequent overstress of the airplane during recovery. - [NTSB ANC24FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA089), Sep 7, 2024: Bell 206B (N306FW), King Salmon, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to initiate the visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation, failure to maintain helicopter control and subsequent… - [NTSB CEN24FA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA327), Aug 26, 2024: Piper PA-28-140 (N9626K), Wayne, NE, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s encounter with instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control. - [NTSB CEN24FA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA326), Aug 26, 2024: Rans S19 (N519JR), Crofton, NE, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to continue visual flight into an area of low cloud cover and precipitation which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological… - [NTSB WPR24FA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA257), Jul 26, 2024: Pilatus PC-12/47E (N357HE), Recluse, WY, destroyed, 7 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation while operating in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s… - [NTSB ERA24FA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA323), Jul 25, 2024: Cirrus Design SR22 (N990PT), Trenton, ME, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s aggressive pitch and power control inputs while executing a missed approach, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control. - [NTSB CEN24FA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA243), Jun 30, 2024: Waco YKC (N14137), Selden, KS, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which had not been forecast at the time of departure, and which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial… - [NTSB ERA24LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA227), May 26, 2024: Brallier Scott Glasair I (N446KW), Gulf of Mexico, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while flying over water in dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to… 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.