What phenomenon occurs when a pilot approaches a runway without ground references?

The phenomenon known as the Black Hole Approach occurs when a pilot approaches a runway without sufficient visual ground references. This typically happens in situations where the approach path is over dark terrain, water, or unlit areas, which can create a deceptive visual environment. In such cases, the pilot may have difficulty gauging altitude and rate of descent, leading to a higher risk of misjudgment during landing.

As the pilot transitions from an altitude where they can see, to one where the ground references are not visible, they may not have adequate cues to properly perceive their approach angle. This can result in an illusion of being lower than they actually are, prompting inappropriate control inputs and potentially leading to a hard landing or runway overrun. Therefore, understanding Black Hole Approaches is critical for pilots, particularly when flying in low light or adverse visual conditions.