When Should a Pilot Initiate a Go-Around?

Knowing how and when to commence he maneuver is like an art form.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Go-arounds, also called a ‘balked landing,’ are part of all pilot training. [Credit: FLYING Archive]

Key Takeaways:

Initiate a go-around if your approach is unstable (e.g., improper configuration, off speed/altitude/centerline) or if there are any obstacles on the runway.
Prioritize safety by executing a go-around rather than attempting to salvage a poor approach, unless it's a critical emergency.
The go-around procedure involves "ups"—pitching up, adding power, cleaning up the aircraft, and communicating with others once control is established.
Specific stability thresholds for a go-around are below 500 feet in VFR conditions or below 1,000 feet in IFR conditions if the approach is unstable.

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Question: When should a pilot initiate a go-around? I am a student pilot and I know enough to go around if the tower tells me to or the CFI I am flying with tells me to, but what do I do when I am flying solo at a nontowered airport?

Answer: If you are behind the airplane, meaning the aircraft isn’t properly configured (on speed, flaps down, and landing gear down), or too high, too low, or not lined up on the centerline, going around is a good aeronautical decision. Unless it is an emergency and landing must be made now, never try to salvage a poor approach.