Training and Proficiency What A CFI Wants You To Know

Why Straight-In Approaches Aren’t So Straightforward

On a straight-in approach, pilots can miss cues for aircraft configuration changes, such as power reduction and addition of flaps.

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 12:31 PM ET

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NTSB reports are full of events that can occur when a pilot on a straight-in forgets the landing gear. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Straight-in approaches, especially at non-towered airports, are dangerous because they can lead pilots to miss critical cues for aircraft configuration (e.g., landing gear, flaps) and reduce situational awareness, significantly increasing the risk of collisions and unsafe landings.
Adhering to standard traffic patterns with a 45-degree entry and consistently using pre-landing checklists (including multiple gear checks and incremental flap deployment) is crucial for safe aircraft configuration and maintaining situational awareness.
While generally discouraged for routine operations, straight-in approaches may be necessary in emergency situations or with ATC clearance at towered airports, but they demand specific pilot training and practice to manage aircraft configuration effectively without standard pattern cues.

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On August 18, 2022, a twin-engine Cessna 340A collided with a Cessna 152 on final approach into Watsonville Municipal Airport (KWVI) south of San Jose, California, during VFR conditions.

Three miles out from the airport, the pilot of the C-340A announced he was doing a straight-in. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined the larger, faster airplane was not configured for landing as its approach speed was 180 knots. The published flap extension speed for the C-340A is 160 knots, and the landing gear extension speed is 140 knots.

Meg Godlewski

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.