“Controlled Flight into Terrain” (CFIT)

Subject – Defence and Security

Context – Disorientation of crew in poor weather likely cause of crash

Concept –

CFIT means that the pilot is in full control of the aircraft but due to faulty situational awareness, the aircraft strikes the terrain.
A CFIT means the helicopter was fully serviceable and instruments are in order.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines CFIT as an unintentional collision with terrain (the ground, a mountain, a body of water, or an obstacle) while an aircraft is under positive control.
Most often, the pilot or crew is unaware of the looming disaster until it is too late. CFIT most commonly occurs in the approach or landing phase of flight.
Accidents where the aircraft is out of control at the time of impact, because of mechanical failure or pilot error, are not considered CFIT (they are known as uncontrolled flight into terrain or UFIT), nor are incidents resulting from the deliberate action of the person at the controls, such as acts of terrorism or suicide by pilot.