Private Pilot for Airplane Category › IV. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds › Task D. Soft-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL)

PA.IV.D.S6

Skill

Establish the recommended approach and landing configuration, airspeed, and trim, and adjust pitch attitude and power as required to maintain a stabilized approach.

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Study note

Get a short, cited explanation of this element written from the FAA handbooks: the core idea, the numbers that matter, common test traps, and a quick self-check.

From the FAA library

Airplane Flying Handbook p. 9-26
Chapter 9: Approaches and Landings › Power-Off Accuracy Approaches › 180° Power-Off Approach
Full flaps should be delayed until it is clear that adding them will not cause the landing to be short of the point. The pilot should never try to stretch the glide or retract the flaps to reach the desired ... landing spot. On short final, full attention is given to making a good, safe landing rather than concentrating on the selected landing spot. The approach angle used and final approach airspeed determine the probability of landing on the spot…
Airplane Flying Handbook p. 9-3
Chapter 9: Approaches and Landings › Normal Approach and Landing › Final Approach
drift correction is established and maintained to follow a ground track perpendicular to the extension of the landing runway centerline. This requires that the airplane be angled sufficiently into the wind to prevent drifting farther away from the intended landing ... spot. Figure 9-3. Base leg and final approach. Final Approach After the base-to-final approach turn is completed, the pilot aligns the longitudinal axis of the airplane with the centerline of the runway or landing surface…
Airplane Flying Handbook p. 9-21
Chapter 9: Approaches and Landings › Short-Field Approach and Landing
When safety and conditions permit, a wider-than-normal pattern with a longer final approach may be used. This allows the pilot ample opportunity to adjust and stabilize the descent angle after the airplane is configured and trimmed. A stabilized ... approach is essential. The procedures for landing on a short field or for landing approaches over obstacles as recommended in the AFM/POH should be used. [Figure 9-22 and Figure 9-23] These procedures generally involve a final approach started…
Airplane Flying Handbook p. 9-20
Chapter 9: Approaches and Landings › Turbulent Air Approach and Landing
Attempted landing in crosswinds that exceed the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind component. 2. Undershooting or overshooting the turn from base leg to final approach. 3. Inadequate compensation for wind drift on final approach. 4. Unstable approach. 5. Excessive sink ... rate or too low an airspeed from increased drag and reduced vertical lift during sideslip. 6. Failure to touch down with the longitudinal axis aligned with the runway. 7. Touching down while drifting. 8. Excessive airspeed on touchdown. 9. Failure…
Airplane Flying Handbook p. 9-4
Chapter 9: Approaches and Landings › Final Approach › Wrong Surface Landing Avoidance
This is one reason for performing approaches with partial power; if the approach is too high, the pilot can lower the nose and reduce the power to maintain the correct airspeed. When the approach is too low, the pilot ... power and raise the nose. While the proper angle of descent and airspeed are maintained by integrating pitch and power changes, an untrained or inexperienced pilot may try to reach a landing spot by applying back-elevator pressure without adding…