What does the Graveyard Spiral illusion lead a pilot to do when they perceive they are not turning?

The Graveyard Spiral illusion occurs when a pilot, in a state of disorientation, perceives that they are not turning when, in fact, they are. This situation typically arises in scenarios where there is a gradual loss of altitude while in a continuous turn, leading to a misinterpretation of the aircraft’s attitude.

When pilots experience this illusion, their instinctive response is often to pull back on the controls, which they believe will help level the aircraft. However, since they are in a continuous turn, pulling back actually exacerbates the spiral descent, further compounding the disorientation and leading to an undesirable flight path. This behavior is driven by the pilot’s incorrect sense of the aircraft’s orientation, making them think that pulling back will help correct the perceived straight and level flight.

Therefore, recognizing the Graveyard Spiral is critical for pilots to understand the effects of spatial disorientation and the importance of relying on instruments rather than sensory perceptions alone during flight.