Soft-field landing

A soft-field landing is on a soft or unprepared surface. Touch down at the lowest speed consistent with safety.

Approach:

• Normal power-on approach, if field length is not a problem.
• Some power helps smooth the landing.

Touchdown:

• Nose up, roughly the attitude for a power-off stall.
• Tail wheel aircraft: the tail wheel touches down with or just before the main wheels.

After touchdown:

• Hold the nose wheel clear of the surface as long as possible.
• Brake with care to avoid excessive nose gear loads.
• Aircraft decelerates quickly. Hold control column fully back and add power as speed drops.
• Tail wheel aircraft: hold the tail wheel down with elevators throughout the roll.

Trap: easing back pressure as the aircraft slows. It can get stuck or nose over.

Practice