Surviving The Missed

As a student of NTSB reports and an active instrument flight instructor, I have come to the conclusion we do not stress preparedness for the missed approach procedure enough, either in initial instrument training or in instrument proficiency checks. In addition to collisions with obstacles because of an improperly flown missed, the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee, an FAA/industry working group charged with identifying and mitigating the causes of fatal general aviation accidents, has identified loss of control during a missed approach as one of its focus scenarios. This suggests that—even when the pilot attempts to fly the missed approach procedure properly—the workload of doing so may be greater than the pilot is prepared to handle. So how can we make certain we are properly briefed for the missed approach, so we know how to fly it correctly? What can we do to reduce pilot workload while flying the missed?

Key Takeaways:

• Pilots are often insufficiently prepared for missed approaches, leading to accidents from loss of control or terrain collisions, highlighting the need for better training and proficiency checks.
• Effective preparation includes thoroughly briefing the missed approach procedure, memorizing the initial climb segment, and trimming the aircraft for climb speed during the approach to reduce workload during execution.
• During a missed approach, follow the "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate" priority: establish a safe climb, then navigate the procedure, and only then communicate with ATC to avoid critical distractions close to the ground.
• Frequent practice of missed approaches under varying conditions is crucial to build proficiency and ensure the procedure can be executed safely and naturally when needed.

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