Density Altitude Descent Final Approach 
Plane and Pilot
JULY 1, 2025
The calculated density altitude was 4,790 feet. Probable cause(s): The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees after takeoff, during high density altitude weather conditions. The airplane made a slow descent toward the east for about nine minutes, away from the destination airport.
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. Feather the blades to generate lift from the upward flow of air during the descent (instead of pushing the air downwards in powered flight).
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Professional Pilot
AUGUST 8, 2024
Challenger 604, G-IV Contributing Writer Pilatus PC-12 on approach at ORL. Air traffic control instructions often lead to unstable approaches. The request to make a short approach or maintain a higher-than-normal speed to the final approach fix is the most common reason pilots don’t meet stable approach criteria.
Air Facts
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
This descent used the same technique that (would have) had value in many of the NTSB accidents involving engine failure after takeoff. This meant that I could land normally on the runway, not overshoot, and did not need to be concerned with the airliners on the crossing runway.
Pilot Institute
JUNE 26, 2024
A go-around is a maneuver performed to abort or reject a landing on the final approach or once the aircraft has already touched down. A common situation is if an aircraft is on final approach, and another holding on the runway cannot take off in time. Pitch for Climb The next immediate action is to arrest the descent.
Chess In the Air
JUNE 24, 2022
Under normal circumstances Shmulik would have had sufficient altitude to delay the landing by several minutes: his glider’s minimum descent rate in still air was just 100 fpm. Even a more typical descent rate of 200 fpm would have allowed Shmulik to hold for about 5-7 minutes before he would have had to proceed with the landing.
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