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Landing Off Field

     by Kai Gertsen
     April 1999
     Revised 2006

An inordinate number of accidents occur during off-airport landings, which is regrettable as I am convinced the majority are attributable to pilot error and could readily be avoided by proper training.

Luck plays a surprisingly small role in successful field landings. Ninety-nine percent is know-how, preparation and skill.  I am reasonably qualified to address this subject having made, at this point in time, 169 off-airport landings and have probably picked ten times that number of fields.  Consequently, most of the following material is based on personal experience including that in the "Must never do" category.  Naturally, it is impossible for anyone to have been exposed to all possible scenarios, even in a lifetime of cross-country flying, so some of the material is derived from other pilots encounters.

Warning: There will be a test sometime after this course. The time and place will be at your first field landing and failing is not an option.

          Table of Contents

     Why You Should Be Prepared
     Preparation 
     Spin Proficiency 
     Serious Hazards 
          Wires 
          Slopes 
          Fences 
          Wind Direction 
          Field Selection 
               Crop & Surface 
               Field Size 
     Pattern & Approach 
     When To Opt For A Down-Wind Landing 
     Landing 
     Qualifications 
     After Landing 
     Elements Of A Successful Field Landing 
     Practice 
     Emergency Procedures  
     Low Saves  
     Fundamentals Of Low Saves