← All explained questions · Supplemental · VIII — Basic Instrument Maneuvers

A 'graveyard spiral' begins when

Choices

the airplane stalls in IMC.
Stall isn't the spiral mechanism.
✓ in IMC, the pilot enters a prolonged turn and the inner ear adapts, no longer sensing the turn.correct
Pulling back to maintain altitude in the bank tightens the spiral, increasing airspeed and bank. without instrument cross-check the airplane spirals down to terrain. Graveyard spiral mechanism: pilot enters bank in IMC. After ~20 sec the inner ear adapts and stops sensing the turn. Pilot, flying by feel, perceives only that the airplane is descending — pulls back. In a banked turn, pulling back tightens the turn and increases descent rate. Without AI cross-check, this loop accelerates until terrain impact. The 178-second VFR-into-IMC fatal time is mostly from this scenario.
engine failure in IMC.
Engine failure is a separate emergency.
fuel exhaustion.
Fuel issues don't cause spirals.

Why

Pulling back to maintain altitude in the bank tightens the spiral, increasing airspeed and bank. without instrument cross-check the airplane spirals down to terrain. Graveyard spiral mechanism: pilot enters bank in IMC. After ~20 sec the inner ear adapts and stops sensing the turn. Pilot, flying by feel, perceives only that the airplane is descending — pulls back. In a banked turn, pulling back tightens the turn and increases descent rate. Without AI cross-check, this loop accelerates until terrain impact. The 178-second VFR-into-IMC fatal time is mostly from this scenario.

FAA source: PHAK Ch 17, AIM 8-1-5; PHAK Chapter 17 — Aeromedical Factorsbrowse the reference library →

Covered in Supplemental · VIII — Basic Instrument Maneuvers — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.