Is ‘The Impossible Turn’ Ever the Right Move?

If you are faced with a problem right after takeoff, you should be prepared to make the right decision.

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 08:48 AM ET

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Although it's talked about often, an emergency 180-degree turnaround after trouble following takeoff is usually not advisable. [File photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The article strongly advises against attempting the "impossible turn" back to the airport after an engine failure on takeoff, highlighting that the FAA considers it the "worst possible action" for single-engine aircraft due to high risk and "misplaced optimism."
Executing a safe 180-degree turn is extremely challenging, requiring precise skill, sufficient altitude, and ideal conditions that are rarely met, often leading pilots to trade safer off-field landing options for an uncertain outcome.
Pilots should mitigate this risk by pre-planning emergency drills, identifying potential off-field landing sites ahead of the aircraft before takeoff, and being realistic about their capabilities under pressure.

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When I tell people outside of aviation that I’m a pilot, they typically ask me, “Could Captain Sully and Jeff Skiles make it back to the airport, or was landing in the Hudson their best option?” The response is complicated because Sully—the movie based on the famous event—focused on the NTSB investigation that questioned the crew’s decision.

With nearby airports in view, should the CACTUS 1549 crew have attempted the “impossible turn”? Today, I’d be surprised if anyone doubted that the flight crew made the right decision not to return to the airport.

Is ‘The Impossible Turn’ Ever the Right Move?

If you are faced with a problem right after takeoff, you should be prepared to make the right decision.

Key Takeaways:

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