How bad did I screw up?

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jsparks

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JSparks
It is with great embarrassment that I ask this....

I recently got current after a 5 year absence from flying and have flown about 6 hours with my instructor during and even some after my FR. Last weekend I took a buddy up flying just to get in the air.

Where the screw up happens.... We departed the airport with zero winds on runway 23. Flew around circling the county just looking around and headed back to land after about 1 hour. My intention was to do a couple of touch and gos to practice a bit. I flew the pattern as I have 100+ times and coming in on final about 100ft from the ground it felt like the plane would not settle any further and I kept being pushed down the runway. I chose to go around and try again. went around and tried again.....same thing. Trying to keep cool, I attempted to extend my final and got closer to feeling comfortable but the same thing happens, descended normal everything was lining up and about 50-100 ft from the runway, we started sailing again. Set up for the FOURTH attempt and greased the landing but roll out was a little longer than normal but I was able to exit the normal taxi way. On the taxi my buddy was commenting on go arounds (not being a jerk, but wanted to understand what was happening) and right at that second something caught my eye....it was the wind sock standing at complete attention directly down runway 23...... I totally failed to observe the sock in the pattern and landed with what I later found out was a 10kt tail wind. Seemed strange that the only altitude I felt the effect of the winds was less than 100ft. I know I screwed up and lesson learned. oh and it was over 90* outside.

My question is, how big of a deal is this really. I have beat myself up over this for almost a week now.
 
Well you're here to tell the tale, and the FAA hasn't tracked you down. So I wouldn't worry myself too much over it. I bet the next time you float on final, you'll wonder what the winds are!

In all reality, this is the best way to learn. This one will probably stick with you.
 
Don't beat yourself up over it. You didn't bend or break anything, and I doubt you'll make that mistake again. Sometimes the wind will change from a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind while you're flying the pattern. Ask me how I know! Lol. AWOS is frequently wrong, so just get in the habit of checking the windsock for confirmation.
 
Cooter said:
Well you're here to tell the tale, and the FAA hasn't tracked you down. So I wouldn't worry myself too much over it. I bet the next time you float on final, you'll wonder what the winds are!
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Thanks. Like I said lesson learned, next time I'm looking at the sock!
 
I had a similar experience. AWOS was reporting 180 degrees out. Tried a couple landings and just felt like the ground was moving too fast. Eventually realized the wind sock was pointing the other direction.


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Oh, I forgot to mention it was in a 68 C-172 with no mods.
 
Seems like you made a little mistake and proceeded to handle it just fine. No one hurt, no bent metal.

Everyone here has made more than a few mistakes and survived them... it's called experience and we're better for it.

So, what did you learn from it other than always check the wind before landing (you probably won't be doing that again)?


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The excessive ground speed on short final should have been the first indicator of what was happening.

Lesson learned, we've all been there and done the same thing at one point. Don't sweat it!
 
Depends on how long the runway is. I wouldn’t want to land with a 10 knot tailwind on a 1500ft strip.
 
Bill Watson said:
...So, what did you learn from it other than always check the wind before landing ...
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Other than identifying the indicators of landing with a tailwind and that an older 172 with 40* flaps doesn't like go arounds with a tail wind. I'm not sure what else I'm missing....
 
Nothing to worry about. You learned something from it so it's all good. I'd say all of us have done the same thing, probably more than once. It happens. Now go have yourself a cold one or three.
 
Most of my bonehead mistakes involve leaving the flaps down (or up). I flew about 10 minutes at flaps 10 wondering why I wasn't gaining speed after doing a T&G at a local airport. I've also taken off with full flaps on a T&G and not realized it until about 200 or so ft. That was fun...

Don't worry about it..
 
I was learning to fly. I'm standing in the office, waiting to go. The owner comes in. He flies charter, and had just landed in the Baron. Tons of flight time.

He looks out the window. "Huh. I thought that was a little fast. I guess I landed downwind."

Windsock is indicating the wind is a direct tailwind.

In can happen to ANYONE.
 
Mistake Not... said:
I was learning to fly. I'm standing in the office, waiting to go. The owner comes in. He flies charter, and had just landed in the Baron. Tons of flight time.

He looks out the window. "Huh. I thought that was a little fast. I guess I landed downwind."

Windsock is indicating the wind is a direct tailwind.

In can happen to ANYONE.
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It certainly can happen to anyone, but the learning portion should be that it took numerous tries to land safely.
One successful attempt that seems fast does not have the same impact imo.
 
I can see how flying frequently to and from towered airports would make this something easy to forget. 99% of my flying is from non-towered fields with no AWOS. I guess looking at the sock or the set of 3 flags over the nearby Burger King is just seconds nature for me. This time of year the farmers are always burning fields which makes it real easy. Like I said, though, if you're used to controlled fields where the decisions are most often made for you then I can see how you could become complacent.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
I always enjoy this remark for KOSC
"DURG DALGT HRS TAILWINDS MAY EXIST OVER APCH ENDS RY 06 & 24 SIMULTANEOUSLY."
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11800 x 200 ft...

I've driven by that field on my way to Alpena a few times (purposefully diverted to drive by) that's one of the fields I want to land on sometime.
 
jsstevens said:
I'll add that GOING AROUND when you didn't like what what was happening, not once but three times is excellent! That's what being PIC is all about.
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While that's certainly true, so is knowing the winds.
 
Just wait until you land downwind and downhill then on the rollout ask yourself why the darn thing isn't slowing much...
 
Kritchlow said:
While that's certainly true, so is knowing the winds.
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No disagreement. But he'll not likely forget again. And he didn't just keep going wondering what was wrong.
 
Report to the Mod's office for your whipping!

IMG_3085.JPG
 
Others have already covered the we all make mistakes and live and learn part so I'll pass on that.

As far as landing with a known tail wind, it is no big deal and I think people should practice it from time to time (assuming a suitable runway). There are times, (i.e. shooting an approach at night where you'd have to circle low to the ground in a very dark unknown area) where landing with a tailwind may be the prudent thing to do.

My $0.02 worth.
 
Sounds like you made good judgement and went around with the only issue being not connecting the dots during the flight. Great job!
 
As you fly more you'll get a better feel for the wind. Still, I wouldn't worry about it. Indeed, you get some kudos for noticing that things were somewhat out of whack. I've landed with tailwinds like that before just to get closer to my hangar, and one time when I was desperately racing a T-storm. Of course, that was on a 5K strip.
 
You went around several times and didn't try to push it. And with an audience in the cockpit, not trying to impress or be pressured to force it the next time. Good job. And you galvanized in your brain the need to check a wind sock next time. All's well that ends well. Thanks for sharing.
 
These decisions can be challenging at times.
Example: KCDK, 2355ft w displaced thresholds both ends, windsocks absolutely demolished last year in Hermine and one of two out this year after Irma. Best indication of prevailing wind is waves in the Gulf - can be very misleading w tidal flows. Hmmmm...

Be careful out there
 
Radar Contact said:
Others have already covered the we all make mistakes and live and learn part so I'll pass on that.

As far as landing with a known tail wind, it is no big deal and I think people should practice it from time to time (assuming a suitable runway). There are times, (i.e. shooting an approach at night where you'd have to circle low to the ground in a very dark unknown area) where landing with a tailwind may be the prudent thing to do.

My $0.02 worth.
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:yeahthat:
 
Don't confuse groundspeed with airspeed when you have a tailwind.
I was watching 2 planes land on a rwy with about a 7-10kt tailwind. The first guy did it on purpose because his hangar was way over at the far end of the rwy. He landed downwind on purpose so he wouldn't have to taxi so far. His buddy played follow the leader, and didn't realize he had a tailwind. He went around 3-4 times before the first pilot came on the radio and mentioned the wind direction. The 2nd guy came on the radio and said, "Well, THAT explains it!"
 
Isn't there a rule of thumb (maybe this is wrong, and maybe only for cessnoids).... each 1kt tailwind increases landing rollout by 4%?
 
I once watched a C-340 land with a 35G45 tail wind. He used 1/3 of a 5000 foot runway, and made the only turn off.

I think he had done that a time or two before......and a former C-130 driver.
 
I'm just glad to hear you didn't try to force the plane onto the runway. That rarely has a happy ending.
 
Zeldman said:
I once watched a C-340 land with a 35G45 tail wind. He used 1/3 of a 5000 foot runway, and made the only turn off.

I think he had done that a time or two before......and a former C-130 driver.
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That would be nasty. He may have busted a tire speed.
Every jet I've flown so far has a 10 kt tail landing limitation.
 
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