NTSB Releases Safety Alert on the Risks of Circle-to-Land Instrument Approaches | Aviation International News

NTSB Releases Alert on Circling Approach Risks

The NTSB is warning pilots about knowing the risks and being properly trained before opting for a circle-to-land approach.

N605TR business jet flight path before crash — The Challenger 605's flight path near Truckee-Tahoe airport. (Image: NTSB)

By Kerry Lynch • Editor, AIN monthly magazine

March 27, 2023

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a safety alert advising on the risks and preparation necessary to perform circling instrument approach procedures and maneuvering. The alert, “Circling Approaches: Know the Risks,” was released as the NTSB has been preparing a report on its investigation of the July 2021 Bombardier Challenger 605 accident in Truckee, California, that involved an unstabilized circle-to-land approach. In addition, the Safety Board released the alert to coincide with the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s (ACSF) Safety Symposium last week.

Board member Michael Graham was among the slate of speakers at the ACSF event, providing an overview of the publicly available facts in the Truckee accident. He cited that accident—as well as ones that involved the May 2017 Learjet 35A crash in Teterboro, New Jersey, and the December 2021 Learjet 35A accident at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, California—in the development of the safety alert.

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