Editor’s note: FLYING staff writer and CFI Meg Godlewski is an expert on survival techniques for pilots. She wrote the survival chapter of AOPA’s ground school for CFIs. In this two-part series, she counsels pilots on how to avoid the potential disasters of an unscheduled, off-airport landing, as well as how you can survive if one of those disasters happens to you. Read Part 1 here.
How to Survive An Unscheduled Off-Airport Landing
Key Takeaways:
- Pilots should minimize the risk of unscheduled landings by planning routes with emergency airports, utilizing flight plans and flight following (and remembering to close them), and thoroughly briefing passengers on emergency procedures.
- When an emergency landing is necessary, troubleshoot issues, choose the safest possible terrain (e.g., flat fields over roads/vines, uphill in mountains, gear up in water/swamps), and take immediate pre-impact actions like securing occupants, unlatching doors, and shutting off fuel.
- Post-landing survival hinges on the "ABCs": assess injuries, maintain calm, and check a pre-prepared survival kit, recognizing that help may be delayed and a positive mental outlook is crucial for self-reliance.
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