Fixing Your Bounce

The primary cause of a bounced landing is flaring too high above the runway, perhaps with too much speed. In our ideal, perfect landing, the airplane will quit flying just inches above the runway. Instead, a bounce results when the flare occurs a few feet above it, and the airplane has the energy-resulting from excess altitude, excess airspeed or both-to rebound back into the air. In any event, a bounce results when the airplane isnt finished flying.

Aviation Safety

Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Bounced landings primarily occur when flaring too high above the runway or with excessive speed, causing the aircraft to rebound due to residual energy.
Upon experiencing a bounce, pilots have two main options: execute a full go-around or add partial power to regain control and re-flare for a smoother touchdown.
Preventing bounced landings involves practicing to improve depth perception for flaring closer to the runway, managing airspeed effectively, and maintaining a consistent, controlled approach.

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Whether you’re a pre-solo student or an experienced pilot always flying the same airplane, getting a smooth landing every time can be a challenge. Unfortunately, landings are the yardstick by which many gauge our abilities as a pilot, so anything other than a smooth, picture-perfect return to terra firma is cause for discussion and grading.

According to the old saying, if there’s no damage, any landing is a good one. Great landings, on the other hand, have a few characteristics, among them is lack of a bounce or two. The thing is that a bounced landing usually has well-understood causes. Happily, there also are well-understood remedies.