Graveyard Spiral

A graveyard spiral is an insidious sensory illusion where a pilot in a prolonged coordinated turn ceases to feel the turning sensation as the fluid in the inner ear stabilises to the new rate of turn. Upon levelling the wings, the pilot experiences a false sensation of turning in the opposite direction and may inadvertently re-enter the original descending turn. If flight instruments are ignored, this can lead to a tightening spiral dive and ground impact.

Key Points

• •The graveyard spiral is caused by the vestibular system adapting to a constant rate of turn, eliminating the sensation of turning.
• •Levelling the wings creates a false sensation of turning in the opposite direction, prompting the pilot to re-enter the original turn.
• •Recovery requires strict reliance on flight instruments and the discipline to trust them over physical sensations.

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