Graveyard spiral is the illusion of the cessation of a turn while still in a prolonged, coordinated, constant rate turn, which can lead to loss of control. This statement describes which phenomenon?

• A. A wind shear illusion
• B. A misinterpretation of pitch attitude
• C. The graveyard spiral
• D. A false horizon effect

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how a pilot can be fooled by vestibular cues when there are few outside references. In a sustained, coordinated turn at a constant rate, your inner ear’s semicircular canals eventually stop signaling that you’re turning because there’s no angular acceleration. With no reliable outside visual cues, you may wrongly feel that the turn has stopped and that you’re flying straight and level. Meanwhile the airplane remains in the turn and, because the lift is tilted into the direction of the bank, gravity and the continued turning motion cause you to descend in a tightening spiral toward the ground. The result is the graveyard spiral: an illusion of level flight while you’re actually in a turning descent, which can rapidly worsen if not corrected.

This is different from wind-shear illusions, which involve abrupt changes in airspeed or altitude due to wind at different layers; or from misinterpretation of pitch attitude, which is about reading the nose position rather than the turn itself; and it’s not the false horizon effect, which is a visual misperception of the world outside. The graveyard spiral specifically hinges on the disconnect between perceived lack of turning and the ongoing turn coupled with descent in a banked flight. The safe response is to rely on instruments, roll to wings level, and apply power to regain altitude before reestablishing normal flight.