Definition
An in-flight collision or near collision with terrain, water, or an obstacle without prior loss of control of the aircraft.
Why it matters
CFIT events are often catastrophic and may develop without obvious handling difficulty until warnings or visual contact occur very late.
Questions that turn reading into a defensible review
A strong review separates the event description, possible precursors, recorded evidence, approved criteria, and the final safety decision.
What exactly is being examined?
An in-flight collision or near collision with terrain, water, or an obstacle without prior loss of control of the aircraft.
Which conditions could build the exposure?
Altitude or approach-path error; Navigation or flight-management setup error.
What evidence would strengthen the picture?
Radio altitude, vertical path, selected/cleared altitude, and warning states Approach configuration and descent below minima
What must remain authoritative?
Current approved aircraft data, operator procedures, investigation findings, and the source document’s own scope control any operational conclusion.
Timeline, aircraft state, relationships, and recurrence
Radio altitude, Vertical speed, Calibrated airspeed, Pitch attitude, Autopilot status can contribute to a synchronized event picture when their mappings, units, sampling, and flight-phase logic are validated.
Cause, intent, compliance, and technical disposition
An FDM alert or pattern is not by itself a causal finding, judgement of individual performance, regulatory conclusion, or aircraft maintenance and airworthiness determination.
Reports, approved criteria, context, and authoritative evidence
Combine the recorded picture with applicable procedures, crew and operational reports, weather or airport information, technical evidence, and the linked official publications and investigation sources.
CFIT barrier path
Procedure design, navigation, monitoring, minimum altitudes, warnings, and escape response provide layered defenses.
Common causes and precursors
- →
Altitude or approach-path error
- →
Navigation or flight-management setup error
- →
Reduced visibility, fatigue, weak monitoring, or warning response
Operational risks
- R1
Terrain or obstacle impact
- R2
Loss of escape margin
- R3
Crew spatial disorientation
Guidance themes
These are cross-source themes for orientation. Apply only the current, approved material for the aircraft and operation.
- Cross-check terrain, altitude, and approach constraints
- Respond to warnings using approved procedures
- Use stabilized-approach and minimum-altitude barriers
Safety actions to consider
Review terrain-warning events in context
Train nonprecision and visual-path monitoring
Strengthen procedure and database quality
Parameters that help explain the event
A useful event picture comes from signal relationships—not a single exceedance or a generic threshold.
Radio altitude
Radio altitude provides the low-height reference needed to align approach gates, flare, touchdown, warning, and go-around events.
Open parameter guide ↗ft/min or m/sVertical speed
It helps describe energy management, approach stability, flare development, and the severity context of a touchdown.
Open parameter guide ↗ktCalibrated airspeed
Speed relative to the applicable target and configuration is central to energy management, approach stability, runway performance, and stall margin.
Open parameter guide ↗degPitch attitude
Pitch shows rotation, flare, stall response, and potential tail-clearance context when combined with gear geometry and radio altitude.
Open parameter guide ↗discrete / modeAutopilot status
Mode transitions can explain changes in path, speed protection, pilot expectation, workload, and manual-control readiness.
Open parameter guide ↗Recommended monitoring questions
Radio altitude, vertical path, selected/cleared altitude, and warning states
Approach configuration and descent below minima
Cases that add context
ASIP provides a concise learning index. The investigation authority report remains the definitive source.
Editor-reviewed starting points
These records include a deeper ASIP editorial review. Continue to the full evidence index below for direct matches and broader manufacturer, regulator, and investigation reading.
IATA Annual Safety Report — 2024
IATA's 61st annual report provides an interactive, method-defined view of commercial aviation accident performance and contributing-factor classifications.
Official sourceStatistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents, 1959–2024
Boeing's 56th annual statistical summary organizes commercial-jet accident data using stated definitions and the CAST/ICAO occurrence taxonomy.
Official sourceSafety Alert SA-077 — Stabilized Approaches Lead to Safe Landings
The NTSB alert highlights the need to establish and maintain a stabilized approach and to go around when an approach falls outside applicable criteria.
Official sourceTitle or indexed metadata explicitly matches this topic.
Related collection material for adjacent systems, phases, and defenses.
Manufacturer, regulator, investigation, and safety-organization sources.
Where the reading comes from
100 source records
Official links · no copied report files100 source records match the current evidence filters.
Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents, 1959–2024
Boeing's 56th annual statistical summary organizes commercial-jet accident data using stated definitions and the CAST/ICAO occurrence taxonomy.
Open official sourceIATA Annual Safety Report — 2024
IATA's 61st annual report provides an interactive, method-defined view of commercial aviation accident performance and contributing-factor classifications.
Open official sourceNear CFIT event during Non Precision Approach
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for approach and landing. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceNTSB Safety Alert SA-013 — Controlled Flight Into Terrain in Visual Conditions
Official U.S. National Transportation Safety Board material indexed for navigation and surveillance. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceNTSB Safety Alert SA-020 — Reduced Visual References Require Vigilance
Official U.S. National Transportation Safety Board material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceNTSB Safety Alert SA-033 — Landing at the Wrong Airport
Official U.S. National Transportation Safety Board material indexed for approach and landing. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceRadio Altimeter erroneous values
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for navigation and surveillance. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceTerrain Awareness and Warning Systems operations based on GPS data
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for navigation and surveillance and human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 24002 — Recognizing and Mitigating Global Positioning System (GPS) / Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Disruptions
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for navigation and surveillance and airworthiness and systems. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 24004 — Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Transmitter Anomalies
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for navigation and surveillance. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 23001 — Potential Damage to Nose Landing Gear (NLG) by Improper Towing Procedures of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Regional Jet (MHIRJ) (formerly Bombardier) CL-600-2B19, CL-600-2C10 and CL-600-2D24 Airplanes
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and ground operations. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 22001 — SAFO 22001, Recommended Procedures for Operators of Boeing DC-9/MD-80 Series and B717 Model Airplanes When Wind/Ground Gusts Meet or Exceed Criteria Specified in the Applicable Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM)
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for weather and maintenance. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 22003 — SAFO 22003, Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Alerts at Denver International Airport (DEN)
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for navigation and surveillance and airworthiness and systems. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 21004 — SAFO 21004, Air Traffic Control (ATC) Notification and Pilot Awareness When Conducting an Instrument Landing System (ILS) Autoland Procedure
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 20014 — SAFO 20014, Boeing 737-8 and 737-9 Airplanes: Pilot Training and Flight Simulation Training Devices ( FSTD ) Updates
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 18004 — SAFO 18004, Rotorcraft External Load Attaching Means and Quick Release Devices for Human External Cargo ( HEC )
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for cabin and cargo and human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 18009 — SAFO 18009, Risk of Runway Number Transposition Leading to a possible "Runway Overrun" During Takeoff at San Francisco International Airport ( SFO )
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and takeoff. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 18013 — SAFO 18013, Updated Rotorcraft External Load Attaching Means and Quick Release Devices for Human External Cargo ( HEC )
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for cabin and cargo and human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceLessons learned
1A normal-feeling aircraft can still be on an unsafe path
2Independent altitude and terrain cross-checks buy recovery time