Definition
A recognized symptom of fatigue in which a pilot's performance of flying tasks becomes less precise and less coordinated. Heading, altitude, and airspeed begin to drift outside normal tolerances, control inputs become rougher or delayed, and the pilot's ability to fly the aircraft smoothly and within standards deteriorates.
Plain English
When a tired pilot starts flying sloppily — missing altitudes, wandering off heading, making jerky control movements, and not catching mistakes as quickly as usual.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of fatigue, especially how tiredness affects flight training, cockpit performance, and decision-making.
Why Pilots Care
It increases the likelihood of operational errors and compromises flight safety during critical phases.
Grounding Statement
A tired pilot may know what to do but may not do it as precisely, smoothly, or consistently as when rested.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as only a complete loss of aircraft control. Here, it can mean a gradual drop in precision and steadiness before anything dramatic happens.
Example Sentence 1
After three hours of pattern work in turbulence, the instructor noticed a loss of accuracy and control in the student's flying and called it a day.
Example Sentence 2
The instructor noted early signs of loss of accuracy and control when the student began deviating from assigned headings.