'' Controlled flight into terrain '' ( CFIT ) is a class of accidents in which an aircraft is flown under control into terrain or man-made structures . CFIT accidents typically result from pilot error or of navigational system error . Failure to protect ILS critical areas can also cause CFIT accidents . In December 1995 , American Airlines Flight 965 tracked off course while approaching Cali , Colombia and hit a mountainside despite a terrain awareness and warning system ( TAWS ) terrain warning in the cockpit and desperate pilot attempt to gain altitude after the warning . Crew position awareness and monitoring of navigational systems are essential to the prevention of CFIT accidents . , over 40,000 aircraft had enhanced TAWS installed , and they had flown over 800 million hours without a CFIT accident
American Airlines Flight 965
American Airlines Flight 965
Aviation safety