Which illusion can happen during a climb where the pilot feels they are tumbling back?

The inversion illusion occurs when a pilot experiences disorientation while climbing, causing the sensation of tumbling or rolling backward. This illusion can be particularly unsettling because the inner ear's vestibular system may misinterpret changes in the airplane's pitch and orientation relative to gravity. During a climb, the body senses the upward movement, but if the visual references do not align with that sensation, the pilot might feel as though they are rolling or tumbling away from the vertical. This type of sensory conflict can lead to incorrect perceptions regarding the airplane's attitude, often causing a disorienting experience.

In contrast, the other illusions mentioned each pertain to different scenarios or sensory misinterpretations. The graveyard spiral relates to a situation of unrecognized descent leading to a false sense of safety, while the Coriolis illusion involves a sudden head movement during a prolonged turn, creating a feeling of rolling. The somatogravic illusion stems from acceleration changes that lead to an overshoot of pitch attitudes during transitions. Understanding the peculiarities of these various illusions is essential for pilots to maintain situational awareness and correctly interpret their aircraft's orientation and movements.