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:
- Minimize risks by thorough pre-flight planning, including route selection with emergency landing sites and always filing a flight plan or using flight following to ensure help can find you.
- Execute emergency landings strategically by troubleshooting engine issues, carefully selecting the safest available terrain (e.g., flat fields over roads/dense trees, landing uphill, gear-up on soft surfaces/water), and preparing the aircraft and occupants for impact.
- Prioritize post-landing survival by immediately assessing injuries, maintaining calm, and utilizing a pre-packed survival kit, remembering that mental resilience is key while awaiting rescue.
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