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 addresses the critical pilot dilemma of the "impossible turn" following an engine failure on takeoff, highlighting the FAA's strong directive against attempting to return to the airport.
The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) considers the 180-degree turn back to the field the "worst possible decision" for single-engine aircraft, as it demands extreme precision, high altitude, and skill beyond most pilots' capabilities.
Executing the "impossible turn" is statistically dangerous, as it often requires bank angles that increase stall speed and destroy best glide performance, making a safe return highly unlikely.
Pilots are advised to combat misplaced optimism by thoroughly pre-planning emergency drills, rehearsing actions, and identifying realistic off-field landing options straight ahead to ensure the best possible outcome.

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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.