It’s important to know how and when to perform a go-around. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]
Key Takeaways:
Performing a go-around (balked landing) is a crucial safety maneuver, more important than salvaging a bad landing, as NTSB data shows many accidents occur during the landing phase.
Pilots must diligently practice go-arounds, focusing on correct power application with right rudder, incremental flap retraction, and consistent use of pre-landing checklists like GUMPS to prevent common errors like stalls or overcontrolling.
A go-around should be initiated for various reasons, including unstable approaches, landing gear issues, unexpected runway obstacles, incorrect runway alignment, or upon instruction from ATC or a CFI, emphasizing the need for high situational awareness.
This is what my instructor said when he taught me how to do a go-around, also known as a balked landing. Knowing when not to land is more important than how to land because trying to salvage a bad landing often leads to an accident.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
![It’s important to know how to do a go-around. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/VFR-into-IFR-smoke-scaled-e1681249141756.jpg)
