Getting Tired of Tragic Accidents After Engine Failures on Takeoff? Yeah, Me Too

Engine failure accidents on takeoff are a controversial subject but one well worth the attention of GA pilots.

Martha Lunken

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 08:57 AM ET

Verified

Attempts to make successful, emergency 180-degree returns to a runway on climbout are too often catastrophic. [iStock]

Key Takeaways:

Engine failures immediately after takeoff frequently result in tragic accidents when pilots instinctively attempt a hazardous 180-degree turn back to the runway, often leading to stalls due to low altitude and high bank angles.
Standard emergency training for turn-backs, typically practiced at higher altitudes, does not adequately prepare pilots for the surprise and critical factors of a real low-altitude engine failure, where reaction time and increased stall speeds in a turn are lethal.
The article advocates for pilots to prioritize pitching for best glide speed and selecting the safest available landing site *ahead* if below a pre-determined safe return altitude, emphasizing thorough pre-flight planning and maintaining control through impact.

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I was scribbling on the blank half of a magazine page with an ad for bed pillows as I thought about this column. It seemed appropriate to use “Me, Too” instead of “Us, Too” since it’s remotely possible some readers might disagree with me.

I’m a plain-Jane, single-engine-land private pilot with an instrument rating now, but I spent many years and lots of flight time instructing, testing, and examining, both in and out of the FAA. And, heaven knows, as well as the FAA and a large part of the flying and nonflying world, that I don’t always play by the rules. But there’s a particular emergency that bothers me and needs discussion because tragic accidents related to it keep happening.