Pilots Suffered From 'Spatial Disorientation' In Heavy Fog

An accident March 10th in which an Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter went down in the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola, FL was caused by pilot error, according to the Army's official report.

The Military Times reports that in a statement from the Louisiana National Guard, the cause for the accident was determined to be "spatial disorientation of both pilots, which caused them to lose control of the aircraft. The spatial disorientation was due to the pilots failing to effectively transition from visual flight procedures to instrument flight procedures as thick sea fog rolled into the training area."

The accident was investigated by the Louisiana National Guard and the U.S. Special Operations Command. Eleven servicemen were fatally injured when the helicopter went down in the water.

"The flight data recorder and the cockpit communication transcripts indicate increasingly erratic flight control inputs and anxious verbal exchanges as both pilots tried, yet failed, to gain control of the aircraft," according to the investigative report.

NOLA online reports that according to evidence gathered during the investigation, the pilots attempted to engage the autopilot just before the accident.

(Black Hawk helicopter pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.socom.mil