Controlled flight into terrain
|
|
A controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) describes an unintentional crash by an airworthy aircraft into the ground (usually a mountain), usually without prior knowledge or expectation. A plane crash due to mechanical failures (such as engine burnout, etc.) is not a CFIT, since there is almost always prior expectation, and the aircraft is probably not considered airworthy.
One of the most famous incidents of controlled flight into terrain was the Mount Erebus disaster. Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed into Mount Erebus, Antarctica on November 28, 1979. There is still disagreement over the exact causes of the crash, but it is commonly accepted that the pilots' loss of situational awareness and whiteout conditions at the time were contributory factors leading to the crash.