Unstable approach

{{Short description|Aircraft does not maintain certain flight parameters}}

{{Refimprove|date=February 2019}}

An unstable approach is an approach during which an aircraft does not maintain certain essential flight parameters within reasonable limits.{{cite web |last1=Government of Canada |first1=Transportation Safety Board of Canada |title=Unstable approaches - Watchlist 2016 - Transportation Safety Board of Canada |url=https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/surveillance-watchlist/aviation/2016/air-01.html |website=www.tsb.gc.ca |date=31 October 2016}}{{cite web |title=Unstable approach |url=https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/air-safety-institute/accident-analysis/featured-accidents/unstable-approach |website=www.aopa.org |date=16 August 2016}} This usually includes at least one of the following variables stable: speed, descent rate, vertical/lateral flight path and in landing configuration, or receive a landing clearance by a certain altitude. Unstabilized approaches account for most approach and landing accidents. For this reason, an approach should be stabilized by {{convert|1000|ft|m|0}} above runway altitude. Otherwise, a go-around should be executed by the pilot.

For example, the 2016 Magdalen Islands Mitsubishi MU-2 crash was blamed on an unstabilized approach.[http://www.newswire.ca/fr/news-releases/tsb-identifies-unstable-approach-as-key-factor-in-2016-fatal-accident-of-mitsubishi-mu-2-aircraft-in-iles-de-la-madeleine-quebec-668605343.html TSB identifies unstable approach as key factor in 2016 fatal accident of Mitsubishi MU-2 aircraft in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec]