• Failure to establish proper configuration prior to spin entry. 

• Failure to correct airspeed for spin entry. 

• Failure to recognize conditions leading to a spin. 

• Failure to achieve and maintain stall during spin entry. 

• Improper use of controls during spin entry, rotation, and/or recovery. 

• Disorientation during spin. 

• Failure to distinguish a spiral dive from a spin. 

• Excessive speed or secondary stall during spin recovery. 

• Failure to recover with minimum loss of altitude. 

• Failure to recover above minimum altitude with a landing area within gliding distance. 

## Off-Field Landing Procedures 

The possibility of an off-field landing is present on virtually every cross-country soaring flight, even when flying in a self- launching glider. If the engine or power system fails and there is no airport within gliding range, an off-field landing may be inevitable. It should be noted that many glider pilots not flying cross-country have faced the necessity of performing an off-field landing. Causes of off-field landings while soaring in the vicinity of the launching airport, include rapid weather deterioration, a significant change in wind direction, unanticipated amounts of sinking air, disorientation, lack of situational awareness, tow failures, and other emergencies requiring an off-field landing. In these situations, it usually is safer to make a precautionary off-field landing than it is to attempt a low, straight-in approach to the airport. If the glide back to the airport comes up short for any reason, the landing is likely to be poorly executed and may result in damage to the glider or injury to the pilot. 

On cross-country soaring flights, off-field landings are not usually considered emergency landings. As a matter of fact, they are expected and are considered while preparing for flight. On the other hand, if equipment failure leads to the necessity of performing an off-field landing, then the landing can be characterized or described as an emergency landing. Whatever the reason for the off-field landing, each glider pilot must be prepared at all times to plan and execute the landing safely. 

Unlike airport landings, no off-field landing is entirely routine. An extra measure of care must be undertaken to achieve a safe outcome. The basic ingredients for a successful off-field landing are awareness of wind direction, wind strength at the surface, and approach path obstacles. The glider pilot must be able to identify suitable landing areas, 

have the discipline to select a suitable landing area while height remains to allow sufficient time to perform a safe approach and landing, and the ability to make consistently accurate landings in the glider type being flown. 

These basic ingredients for a successful off-field landing can be summarized as follows: 

• Recognizing the possibility of imminent off-field landing. 

• Selecting a suitable area, then a suitable landing field within that area. 

• Planning the approach with wind, obstacles, and local terrain in mind. 

• Executing the approach, land, and then stopping the glider as soon as possible. 

• Attempting to contact ground crew and notifying them of off-field landing location. 

The most common off-field landing planning failure is denial. The pilot, understandably eager to continue the flight and return to an airport, is often reluctant to initiate planning for an off-field landing because, in the pilot’s mind, to do so probably results in such a landing. It would be better, the pilot thinks, to concentrate on continuing the flight and finding a way to climb back up and fly away. The danger of this false optimism is that there is little or no time to plan an off-field landing if the attempt to climb away does not succeed. It is much safer to thoroughly understand the techniques of planning an off-field landing and to be prepared for the occurrence at any time. 

Wind awareness, knowing wind direction and intensity, is key when planning an off-field landing. Flying downwind offers a greater geographical area to search than flying upwind. The tailwind during downwind cruise results in a greater range; a headwind during upwind cruise reduces the range. Wind awareness is also essential to planning the orientation and direction of the landing approach. Visualize the wind flowing over and around the intended landing area. Remember that the area downwind of hills, buildings, and other obstructions will probably be turbulent at low altitude. Also, be aware that landing into wind shortens landing rolls. 

Decision heights are altitudes at which pilots take critical steps in the off-field landing process. If the terrain below is suitable for landing, select a general area no lower than 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL). Select the intended landing field no lower than 1,500 feet AGL. At 1,000 feet AGL, commit to flying the approach and landing off field. If the terrain below is not acceptable for an off-field landing, the best course of action is to move immediately toward more suitable terrain. 

