An unusually narrow runway might cause which type of illusion?

An unusually narrow runway can lead to the aerial perspective illusion, which makes pilots perceive that they are higher than they actually are when approaching it. This illusion occurs because the visual cues that help the pilot determine their height and alignment with the runway centerline are reduced in the presence of a narrow runway. The lack of surrounding reference points or the reduced width compared to what is typically expected can distort the pilot's perception of altitude.

In this context, pilots may have an inaccurate mental picture of their descent path, feeling that they are too high relative to the runway threshold, which can lead to overcorrection during landing. This reaction stems from a reliance on visual information that does not align with the physical reality of their approach, causing potential landing misjudgments.

While other illusions may be relevant in specific scenarios, the aerial perspective illusion directly relates to the perception of height over a narrow runway, emphasizing the importance of visual cues during the approach phase of flight.