forced landing
Unplanned aircraft descent
A forced landing is an unscheduled landing made when an aircraft cannot continue flight—due to engine failure, fuel exhaustion, or other emergency.
The term distinguishes from crash: a forced landing implies some degree of control, though outcomes vary from routine to catastrophic.
The pilot executed a forced landing in a cornfield after the engine quit.
Serious sudden danger
- touchdownSix-point gridiron play
- runwayPaved path for planes
- airfieldAviation facility with runways
- glideMove with effortless continuity
descent · approach · mayday · distress · ditching · undershoot · overshoot · go-around
Area of specialty
- pastureGrazing ground for livestock
- highwayMajor road for travel
- beachSandy waterside margin
- riverbedFloor beneath flowing water
clearing · farmland · desert · water · ditching · obstacles · powerlines · trees
Removal from danger
- rescueSave from harm
- flaresPyrotechnic distress signals
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
- shelterProtected place or structure
ELT · beacon · search-and-rescue · survivor · wreckage · dehydration · hypothermia · flotation
Itemized verification guide
- troubleshootingSystematic fault diagnosis
- restartCommence anew
- squawkHarsh grating bird cry
- transponderSignal-activated transmitter
flaps · bracing · evacuation · shutdown · magnetos · mixture
emergency
Serious sudden danger
glide · descent · approach · mayday · distress · ditching · undershoot · overshoot · go-around · diversion
field
Area of specialty
riverbed · clearing · farmland · desert · water · ditching · obstacles · powerlines · trees · slope
evacuation
Removal from danger
shelter · ELT · beacon · search-and-rescue · survivor · wreckage · dehydration · hypothermia · flotation · raft
checklist
Itemized verification guide
- troubleshootingSystematic fault diagnosis
- restartCommence anew
- squawkHarsh grating bird cry
transponder · flaps · bracing · evacuation · shutdown · magnetos · mixture
malfunction
Failure to operate properly
- landingstouchdown, touch and go, controlled descent, splashdown, ditching
- emergency maneuversditching, evasive action, emergency descent, emergency stop, go-around
- pilotingtakeoff, climbing, cruising, descending, turns
- aviationaircraft, airports, flying, flight, airplane
- hijackingskyjacking, plane hijacking, carjacking, bus hijacking, ship hijacking