Pilot Error During Visual Flight Into Instrument Weather: An Experiment Using Advanced Simulation and Analysis Methods

This study details competing literature findings surrounding visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and it utilizes advanced simulation to fulfill training inadequacies and bring clarity to the research. An experiment involving 16 visual-only pilots was conducted to simulate cross-country flight in marginal weather. Participants’ abilities to aviate, navigate, communicate, and process weather information were measured and correlated with demographics and the pilots’ abilities to adhere to visual flight regulations. 11 out of the 16 pilots committed violations, and the pilots’ previous exposure to instrument weather made them better at collecting in-flight weather reports and obeying VFR regulations. Pilots that penetrated simulated IMC were found to be more reliant on cockpit automation such as autopilot and navigation equipment. Misuse of automation often lead pilots to become overwhelmed by IMC, and in severe cases, pilots displayed flight profiles characteristic of spatial disorientation and lost control of the aircraft or they wandered at dangerously low altitudes in zero visibility, putting them at risk for controlled flight into terrain. This study represents a validation of the advancement of weather simulation to improve flight training, practical examination, and investigation.