Target Fixation

Military pilots have known about this since World War 1. It happens
when a pilot gets so engrossed in destroying his target that he flies
right into it, can happen in air to air as well as air to ground
operations. Bombing ranges around the country are dotted with little
smoking hiles in the ground that stand a silent witness to this killer
phenomenon.

I believe we may have the same thing going for (against) us in racing
only we aren't going for a target, we're going to finish. Some of us
can get so focused on finishing that we lose sight of what's going on
around us (situational awareness). I try to contact any sailplane that
I see as we approach the finish line. Occasionally I get no answer,
Why? Is the other pilot totally engrossed in finishing? Does he have,
Finish Fixation? I know of 5 finish gate accidents that may fall into
this category. The first one that comes to mind is Cal City, region 12
Championships, September 2, 1990:

Nimbus 2 driver is seen approaching the finish line, very low and very
slow. Gate crew was sure he would be landing straight in. Let's stop
the action for a moment and take a look at what was going through the
pilots mind.........

Must finish............getting pretty low, better level
off........what's my airspeed?.........too low to be looking
inside.......

Resume action........Pilot approaches the line, now about 50 feet and
50 knots........Stand-by, MARK, Good finish, Sierra Lima........Ship is
seen making a steep pull-up. Stop action....

I got it.......now make my clikbing turn to down-wind........ what's
wrong with this thing?...........Oh ****, I'm stalling........stick
forward...........Oh, NO..............

We will never know exactly what this pilot was thinking, because he is
no longer with us.

GPS has allowed us to get rid of the Start Gate, in light of accidents
like this, Isn't it time to get rid of its ugly sister, the finish
line?

JJ Sinclair
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