Astute observation, JJ. To that I would add high density altitude. Even
landing into a breeze a high density altitude will produce a high true
airspeed that makes the approach seem "way too fast."

Everybody, keep the ASI in your scan during approaches.

Bill Daniels

"JJ Sinclair" wrote in message
...
Ever had the sensation that you are flying way too fast for your landing?
It
happens when you see objects coming by the cockpit, going way too fast for
a
normal landing. When does this happen? Well, when you're landing down-wind
or
when you forgot to put the flaps down. I have done both and got a
powerful, but
DEAD WRONG sensation of *I'm flying way too fast*

Why do I bring this up? Because I believe we have just experienced 2
accidents
that were caused by this phenomenon. In the accident at Air Sailing, after
a
rope break, the pilot made a 180 and was approaching the departure runway
at
very low altitude, when he suddenly stalled and crashed. Why? He had a 15
knot
head-wind on take-off which would give him a 15 knot tail-wind for his
down-wind landing???

In a recent Salto accident in Oregon, the ship was seen heading for an
off-field landing, with a significant tail-wind. At about 60 feet, the
ship
suddenly banked 90 degrees left and crashed. Stall??? Did the pilot get
the,
*I'm flying way too fast*, sensation???
Food for thought,
JJ Sinclair