Go-Around!

Calling It Off and Trying Again

Sometimes the approach just is not working — too fast, too high, another airplane on the runway, or it simply feels wrong. The answer is the go-around: stop the landing, climb away, and come back around. It is always okay to go around.

Full power

The first thing you do. Push the throttle all the way in to stop the descent and start climbing.

Pitch for climb

Raise the nose to the climb attitude and hold your best climb speed (Vy) so you gain height steadily.

Flaps in stages

Raise the flaps a little at a time — from 30 to 20 to 10 to up — not all at once. Taking them up too fast could make the airplane sink.

Even airline pilots go around several times a year — it is a sign of good judgment, not a problem. Remember the order: power, pitch, flaps. Get the airplane climbing first, then clean it up, then fly the pattern and try the landing again.

Instructor Setup

Cessna 172 with G1000, set up on a normal approach to a familiar runway, full flaps, on a stable final around 65 knots. Plan about 20 minutes. You will call "GO AROUND" at short final to trigger the maneuver.

Session Flow

1. Go-around brief (4 min). Teach the order at the panel: power, pitch, flaps in stages. Stress that go-around is always a valid choice and the decision should be made early.
2. Approach to short final (4 min). Student flies a normal approach with full flaps, holding ~65 knots toward the numbers.
3. The go-around (6 min). Call "GO AROUND." Coach: full power, pitch to climb attitude, then flaps 30 to 20 to 10 to up as speed builds. Watch for a sink if flaps come up too quickly.
4. Back into the pattern (4 min). Climb to pattern altitude, fly the pattern, and set up another approach. Repeat the go-around once if time allows.
5. Wrap (2 min). Recap power-pitch-flaps; preview "Emergency Landing."

Reinforce that hesitation is the only wrong move. The goal is a prompt, ordered go-around, not a graceful one.

Debrief

Confirm the student performed the go-around in the correct order and climbed away cleanly before moving on.

• Added full power immediately on the go-around call
• Pitched to the climb attitude and held best climb speed
• Retracted the flaps in stages, not all at once
• Climbed back to pattern altitude and set up another approach

Next Lesson

Next up is "Emergency Landing" (K36): choosing the best field and flying a mini pattern to it after an engine failure away from the airport. If the flap stages were rushed today, review the 30-20-10-up order at the start of K36.

Skills You'll Work On

These are the maneuvers and procedures covered in this lesson. Your instructor tracks each one as you progress.

• Normal/ Crosswind Landing
• Altitude Speed Config & Trim
• General Handling

Grades reflect what was covered in this lesson, not a certification of pilot competency.

Lesson Plan

Where this fits: Second of three sessions drawn from PPL Lesson 12, "Pattern and Landing Emergencies." This session covers the go-around from short final; K34 covered engine failure after takeoff and K36 covers off-airport landing site selection.

Prerequisite

Can fly a stable approach with full flaps (K33).

Materials

C172 G1000 simulator, flap-schedule card, headset sized for the student.

Goal for this session

Student can perform a go-around from short final using the power, pitch, flaps order and return to the pattern.

Looking Ahead

• K36 — Emergency Landing: picking the best field and flying a mini pattern to land off-airport.
• K37 — No-Power Approach: landing with the engine at idle, managing energy with pitch and flaps.