Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

If you’re not stabilized at 200 feet AGL, go around. On a normal landing, you’d pull the power over the threshold, begin your roundout, and flare around 10 feet AGL. High-wing aircraft might need more power or pitch to arrest the descent. Make sure not to pull back too hard, or you could cause a tail strike.

NOTAMs 52

NOTAMs Runway Approach Descent 52

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

The Rifle ASOS recorded a gust of 43 mph from the south: a 100-degree shift in direction, putting it right on his tail. He only needed a glide ratio of 14:1 to reach the airfield to arrive at a typical pattern altitude of 1,000 ft AGL. At this point he still had an altitude of 8,275 ft MSL, i.e. 2,739 ft AGL.

Pilot 52

Pilot AGL Wind Shear Runway 52

Professional Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

It is based on the pilot’s judgment of certain visual clues, and depends on the maintenance of a constant final descent airspeed and configuration. The destination is a couple thousand feet above sea level, with an RNAV approach that depicts a higher-than-normal descent gradient to a down-sloping runway. The ceiling is 800 ft overcast.

Approach 105

Approach Descent Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) Runway 105

Fear of Landing

APRIL 19, 2024

At approximately 30-40 feet agl, the spinning stopped and the helicopter appeared to stabilize for a brief moment before continuing a nose-low, forward descent into the grass north of Runway 28. The operator confirmed that the tail rotor had been installed the day before the accident. As it descended it spun around 2-3 times.

Torque 76

Torque Indicated Airspeed Tail Knot 76