Story ID: 022
NTSB Releases Alert on Circling Approach Risks
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: The NTSB is warning pilots about knowing the risks and being properly trained before opting for a circle-to-land approach.
Word Count: 279
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a safety alert advising on the risks and preparation necessary to perform circling instrument approach procedures. The alert, “Circling Approaches: Know the Risks,” was released as the NTSB has been preparing a report on its investigation of the July 2021 Bombardier Challenger 605 accident in Truckee, California, that involved an unstabilized circle-to-land approach. In addition, the Safety Board released the alert to coincide with the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s (ACSF) Safety Symposium in late March.

Board member Michael Graham, among the slate of speakers at the ACSF event, cited the Truckee accident—as well the May 2017 Learjet 35A crash in Teterboro, New Jersey, and the December 2021 Learjet 35A accident at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, California—in the development of the safety alert.

In the alert, the NTSB noted that since 2008, 10 accidents involving Part 91 and 135 operators have occurred during a circling approach and have resulted in 17 fatalities. These approaches can be riskier because they require maneuvering at low altitude and low airspeed, increasing opportunity for loss of control or collision with terrain, according to the Safety Board.

Further, circle-to-land maneuvering often results in an unstabilized approach and, while sometimes necessary, pilots don’t always evaluate the risks before accepting them, it added.

The safety alert advises operators to fully understand the risk involved, consider their own experience and limitations such as weather and runway configuration, and know that they may be able to request alternatives. Further, the NTSB recommends scenario-based training in realistic environments for such approaches and stresses the need for a comprehensive briefing before performing such an approach.
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