When landing over a darkened area, what illusion may a pilot experience?

When landing over a darkened area, pilots may experience the illusion that the airplane is higher than it actually is. This phenomenon occurs largely due to the lack of visual references that typically help a pilot gauge their altitude above the ground. In well-lit environments, lights and ground features provide cues about altitude, but in a darkened environment, these references can be scarce or entirely absent.

As a result, the pilot may misinterpret the distance to the runway, leading to the perception of being at a higher altitude. This can affect the pilot's decision-making regarding when to land and can result in a later than necessary descent or, in some cases, a dangerous situation where the aircraft may be lower than intended later in the approach.

Understanding this visual illusion is crucial for safe landings in low-light conditions, and pilots are trained to compensate for this by utilizing instruments and maintaining a steady approach path despite the visual challenges presented by darkness.