Which phase of flight is most associated with an increased risk of experiencing somatogravic illusion?

Somatogravic illusion is particularly associated with rapid acceleration during takeoff. This phenomenon occurs in response to sudden changes in speed and can influence the pilot’s perception of their body’s position relative to the horizon. During rapid acceleration, the body experiences a forward force that can be misinterpreted by the vestibular system as a nose-up attitude due to the feeling of being pushed back into the seat.

This is critical because pilots may then incorrectly assess their aircraft's attitude and make inappropriate control inputs based on a distorted perception of the aircraft's orientation. The takeoff phase, being a time of significant acceleration, heightens the likelihood of such misinterpretations as the aircraft transitions from a static state to one of significant speed and lift.

While other phases of flight—such as cruising, descent, or a stabilized climb—have their own risks associated with sensory misinterpretation or other types of illusions, the intense nature of acceleration during takeoff most strongly correlates with the somatogravic illusion, making this the phase with the highest associated risk.