Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) encompasses a variety of accidents with a common denominator: the accident occurs when an “airworthy aircraft under [positive] control of the flight crew is flown unintentionally into terrain, obstacles, or water, usually with no prior awareness by the crew. CFIT accidents present a special set of challenges. Usually, the knee jerk reaction is to place all of the blame on the pilot for the accident. While pilot error is often the sole cause of a CFIT accident, it is not always the sole cause. In addition, many accidents that appear to be the result of CFIT on the surface are not CFIT after investigation and evaluation. Attorneys at Krutch Lindell have obtained verdicts at trial against manufacturers in cases where the NTSB had previously found that the pilot was the sole cause of the accident.
