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Instrument rating · ACS IR.VI.E · lesson pack

Landing from an Instrument Approach

Why this one matters

Breaking out of the clouds close to the ground, pilots tend to look for the runway and lose the glidepath, landing short, long or off-center. Illusions from rain, haze and approach lights make it worse. A disciplined transition and a stabilized visual segment keep the last 200 feet as safe as the rest of the approach.

1 · Know these cold

  • •The transition from instruments to visual is a high-risk moment: keep cross-checking the instruments as you look outside.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • •Stay on the glidepath (VASI, PAPI or the electronic glidepath) all the way down; ducking under below it after breaking out is a known cause of landing short.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • •Below the DA or MDA only with all three 91.175(c) conditions, continuously: in position for a normal descent with normal maneuvers, the required flight visibility, and a listed reference (approach lights within their limits, threshold, touchdown zone, runway and their markings or lights, REIL, VASI) distinctly visible and identifiable. Lose any one below DA or MDA: go missed immediately; on an MDA approach, no later than the MAP.(14 CFR 91.175(c), (e))
  • •Land only from a stabilized approach; otherwise go around.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • •Configure in stages as the POH directs: approach configuration by the FAF, final flaps when landing is assured (when circling, not until you leave the MDA); complete the landing checklist before the visual segment.(Your airplane's POH/AFM; Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C), IR.VI.E.S3)
  • •Illusions in the visual segment: rain on the windscreen makes you seem higher, haze makes the runway look farther (both lead you to fly low); a narrow or upsloping runway looks high (you fly low); a dark approach over water or terrain (black hole) pulls you low. Defend with the PAPI, VASI or electronic glidepath.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches; AIM 8-1-5)
  • •Land in the touchdown zone with normal maneuvering, and keep control through the rollout.(Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C), IR.VI.E.S1, S4)

2 · The lesson

Responsibilities and conditions
  • You decide whether you can land safely: the 91.175(c) conditions, the wind and runway condition, and a stable approach. Follow ATC's and the evaluator's advisories (NOTAMs, wind shear, wake turbulence, runway surface and braking), even if that means going around.(14 CFR 91.175; Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C), IR.VI.E.S2)
  • On an MDA approach with a published VDP, don't leave the MDA before the VDP unless the 91.175 conditions are met from that position and a normal descent is possible.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • Landing straight-in or from a circle, use the POH configuration and speeds, and a normal landing profile.(Your airplane's POH/AFM)
Lights and markings
  • Approach light systems (such as ALSF or MALSR) extend from the threshold and help you transition; touchdown zone and centerline lights help in low visibility.(AIM, Chapter 2 (approach and runway lighting))
  • The landing decision with only the approach lights in sight: they take you no lower than 100 feet above TDZE (work out TDZE + 100 from the chart before the approach). Going lower needs the red terminating or side-row bars (ALSF-1, ALSF-2; MALSR has none) or another listed reference such as the threshold, REIL, VASI, touchdown zone or runway, with normal descent and the flight visibility holding throughout. Otherwise, go missed at that floor; don’t level off.(14 CFR 91.175; AIM, Chapter 2 (approach and runway lighting))
  • Runway centerline lights: white until 3,000 feet remain, alternating red and white from 3,000 to 1,000 feet remaining, then all red for the last 1,000 feet. Runway end lights are red.(AIM, Chapter 2 (approach and runway lighting))
  • Markings confirm the runway: threshold markings, the runway number, touchdown zone markings and aiming point are 91.175(c)(3) references, and checking them against the chart confirms it's the runway you meant.(14 CFR 91.175; AIM, Chapter 2 (airport marking aids))
  • VASI and PAPI give visual glidepath guidance: on a PAPI, two white and two red is on path.(AIM, Chapter 2 (approach and runway lighting))
The transition and the landing
  • Don’t land from an unstable approach: if the speed, path or alignment is off, go around.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • Stay on the glidepath after breaking out; dropping below it to land earlier is how airplanes hit approach lights and obstacles short of the runway.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • Transition gradually: glance outside, cross-check inside, until the runway is clearly in sight and you’re stable.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • Have the configuration settled and the landing checklist done before the visual segment, so you’re not making big changes at minimums.(Your airplane's POH/AFM)

Want it all on one page, with scenarios? Read the full lesson.

On the flight

ACS standards

  • Transition at the DA, MDA or VDP to visual flight allowing safe maneuvering and a normal landing.(Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C), IR.VI.E.S1)
  • Maintain positive airplane control throughout the landing.(Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C), IR.VI.E.S4)

What your instructor is watching for

Your instructor watches whether you keep cross-checking during the transition, stay on the glidepath, land from a stable approach in the touchdown zone, and go around when it isn’t.

3 · Say it out loud

Answer each one out loud, then check yourself and mark how it went.

  1. Remember Recall it

    “What do red runway centerline lights mean?”

  2. Understand Explain why

    “Why is ducking under the glidepath after breaking out dangerous?”

  3. Apply Use it on a flight

    “You break out at 300 feet slightly left of the centerline and fast. What do you do?”

4 · Common mistakes

  • Looking outside and abandoning the scan.

    Drift and sink unnoticed.

    Instead: Keep cross-checking until stable visually.

  • Ducking under.

    Obstacles short of the runway.

    Instead: Stay on the glidepath.

  • Big reconfiguring at minimums.

    Workload and pitch changes at the worst time.

    Instead: Approach configuration by the FAF; only the final flaps when landing is assured.

5 · Quick check

Answer, then reveal. Flag anything you want to see again.

  1. 1. What does a PAPI show on glidepath?

  2. 2. Runway centerline lights from 3,000 to 1,000 feet remaining?

  3. 3. What must be true to continue below DA or MDA?

  4. 4. Why have the approach configuration set by the FAF?

  5. 5. Unstable at 200 feet after breaking out. What do you do?

  6. Scenario6. You see the approach lights but not the runway at 150 feet above TDZE. What do you do?

Trained it? Now prove it: practice landing from an instrument approach out loud with our examiner.

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Connect it

One situation that runs across this lesson and its neighbors in the same ACS area. Decide first, then check.

Connect it · Instrument Approach Procedures

On an LNAV approach you reach MDA two miles before the missed approach point. At one mile you see approach lights, but not the runway.

Can you descend, how far, and what makes you go missed? Decide, then see the worked answer

Under 91.175(c) you may leave MDA only when the airplane is continuously in a position from which a descent to a landing on the intended runway can be made at a normal rate of descent using normal maneuvers, the flight visibility is at least the published minimum, and at least one of the listed visual references for that runway is distinctly visible and identifiable. The approach light system counts, but it lets you descend only to 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation. That's a floor for the descent, not a target to level off at. Below it you need the red terminating bars or red side row bars, which only ALSF-1 and ALSF-2 systems have, or another 91.175(c)(3) reference: the threshold, its markings or lights, the REIL, the VASI or PAPI, the touchdown zone, or the runway, its markings or lights, distinctly visible and identifiable. Reach 100 feet without one and go missed immediately. Go missed at the MAP if you don't have the references. If you lose them below MDA, go missed at once too. Obstacle clearance on the missed approach assumes it starts at or above MDA at the MAP, so climb, re-intercept the published missed approach as safely as you can, and contact ATC as soon as possible.

14 CFR 91.175(c)-(e); AIM 5-4-21

Brings together: Non-precision Approach · Missed Approach · Landing from an Instrument Approach

Teaching this? The instructor lesson plan →

Study aid, not FAA guidance. Sources: Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B); Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B); Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM); 14 CFR; Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C); Terminal Procedures Publication (TPP). Checked against current sources 2026-11-13.