Going Soft

My first time landing on something other than pavement was with an instructor in a Piper Arrow. I had yet to earn my private certificate, and we were out doing a combination of familiarizing me with a complex/high-performance airplane and transporting some items for the FBO. The most memorable occasion also involved an instructor: We were returning from a spin-training session to a grass strip just soaked by a passing shower. He landed long, locked the 152s brakes in standing water and we sluiced our way to within 30 feet of the fence at the far end. More than anything, that was a demonstration of how not to do it.

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize verifying the grass strip's condition by contacting management and performing a low pass to inspect for hazards and understand the terrain.
• Execute landings at the slowest possible speed using full flaps, touching down on the main gear while actively controlling the nosewheel with a touch of power to maintain pitch authority.
• During all ground operations and takeoff, keep the pitch control fully aft to protect the prop and nosewheel, avoid braking on soft ground, and maintain continuous movement to prevent getting stuck.

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