Register

My Worst Landing

Pilots generally remember their landings, sometimes for years. They come in two basic flavors: best ones and worst ones. Everything else tends to fall into a memory-based black hole. My best ones are too numerous to mention, naturally, but my worst ones stick around in my memory like poor weather at the beach. One bad landing in particular stands out.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot recounts his "worst landing ever" in a Cessna 182, which involved multiple uncontrolled bounces after an otherwise normal approach.
  • The incident was attributed to over-pitching in the flare, caused by the pilot's unfamiliarity with the increased pitch authority when carrying rear passengers, contrasting with the aircraft's usual nose-heavy feel with only two people.
  • Despite the dramatic landing, the airplane sustained no damage, providing a valuable learning experience about the effects of weight distribution on aircraft handling.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Pilots generally remember their landings, sometimes for years. They come in two basic flavors: best ones and worst ones. Everything else tends to fall into a memory-based black hole. My best ones are too numerous to mention, naturally, but my worst ones stick around in my memory like poor weather at the beach. One bad landing in particular stands out.

The days mission was to transport the girlfriend and another couple to a beach for the day. We had chosen my flying clubs Cessna 182 and a no-services paved strip right on the beach. The flight down was uneventful, and I planned the approach from over the water as suggested by the windsock, which was showing an onshore breeze. Up to the touchdown, everything was perfectly normal.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE