Prepare for: Missed Approaches
Transitioning from an approach to the published missed approach procedure.
Your CFI's syllabus and your airplane's POH come first. This page is a general study aid to help you show up prepared.
What you'll do
- Apply climb power, pitch for climb, configure (clean up per the POH).
- Fly the published missed approach or ATC instructions.
- Tell ATC you're missed, then plan another approach or divert.
The standard you'll be held to
Quoted from the current FAA Airman Certification Standards for each level that tests this.
Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C)Task IR.VI.C · Missed Approach
- Promptly initiate the missed approach procedure and report it to ATC.
- Apply the appropriate power setting for the flight condition and establish a pitch attitude necessary to obtain the desired performance.
- Configure the airplane in accordance with airplane manufacturer’s instructions, establish a positive rate of climb, and accelerate to the appropriate airspeed, ±10 knots.
- Follow the recommended checklist items appropriate to the missed approach/go-around procedure.
- Comply with the published or alternate missed approach procedure.
- Advise ATC or the evaluator if unable to comply with a clearance, restriction, or climb gradient.
- Maintain the recommended airspeed ±10 knots; heading, course, or bearing ±10°; and altitude(s) ±100 feet during the missed approach procedure.
- Use an MFD and other graphical navigation displays, if installed, to monitor position and track to help navigate the missed approach.
- Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
- Request ATC clearance to attempt another approach, proceed to the alternate airport, holding fix, or other clearance limit, as appropriate, or as directed by the evaluator.
Read it in the FAA handbooks
The official chapters behind this page. Each link opens the exact chapter, free on faa.gov. See the full Study Library.
Prepare the night before
- Brief the missed approach as part of every approach briefing.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the first turn or altitude.
- Not cleaning up the airplane.
Questions to ask your instructor
- Can we practice missed approaches with distractions?
Check yourself
Something wrong or out of date? Report an error