Circling Approach: Is It Your Best Option? | Aviation International News

Circling Approach: Is It Your Best Option?

NTSB cautions on inherent risks to circling approaches

Learjet 35A cockpit photo — The pilots flying a Learjet 35A (similar to this one) to Teterboro on a gusty day didn’t properly brief nor fly the circle-to-land approach and crashed turning toward Runway 1, according to the NTSB. (Photo: AIN)

By Stuart “Kipp” Lau • Contributor - Safety

September 5, 2023

Circling approaches are the most dangerous of all approaches, especially when flown at night or in marginal weather conditions. As an extension of an instrument approach, a circling approach is the “visual segment of an approach” often flown at low altitude, low airspeed, and with no lateral or vertical guidance to a runway. Accepting a clearance to fly a circling approach is risky business and there is no room for error.

Since 2008, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), there have been 10 major accidents involving Part 91 and Part 135 aircraft flying a circling approach. On average, that is one fatal accident every 18 months, where an aircraft either loses control or impacts terrain while attempting a circling approach.

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