controlled crash
Intentional hard touchdown
A controlled crash is a landing or impact managed to minimize damage when a normal stop isn't possible.
Pilots execute controlled crashes when equipment fails—the aircraft will hit the ground, but technique reduces harm.
The term extends to any situation where failure is inevitable but its severity can be limited: The product launch was a controlled crash—we shipped knowing there were bugs, but contained the worst of them.
- landingDescent's final moment
- emergency landingUnscheduled descent due to crisis
- impactForceful contact or consequence
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- touchdownSix-point gridiron play
descent · flight crew · bracing · skid · runway · cockpit · pilot · brace position · brace · gear up · wheels · belly landing · belly · terrain · glide · Hudson River · mayday · survival
- emergency maneuversemergency landing, forced landing, ditching, evasive action, emergency descent
- desperate measureslast resort, desperate plea, desperation move, last ditch, last chance
control, controlled, controlling, controller, controls, uncontrolled, controllable, uncontrollable, crash