Definition
The total runway and air distance required for a multi-engine airplane to accelerate from a standing start to takeoff decision speed, experience the failure of the critical engine at that point, and then continue the takeoff on the remaining engine(s) to a height of 50 feet above the runway surface.
Plain English
How much distance you need to take off and climb to 50 feet if one engine quits partway through the takeoff roll and you decide to keep going on the engine you have left.
Context Anchor
Seen in takeoff performance planning, especially for multiengine airplanes and runway-length decisions.
Derivation
A compound term: 'accelerate' (speed up during the takeoff roll), and 'go' (the decision to continue the takeoff after engine failure rather than abort). It pairs with 'accelerate-stop distance,' which covers the opposite choice -- aborting and stopping on the runway.
Why Pilots Care
It tells the pilot whether the runway is long enough to continue a takeoff safely after an engine fails at the critical speed instead of stopping.
Grounding Statement
Picture the airplane starting its takeoff roll, losing an engine near the go/no-go point, and still needing enough runway and climb distance to keep flying.
Intuition Check
Accelerate-go distance is not the same as a normal takeoff distance. It specifically includes continuing the takeoff after an engine failure at the planned decision point.
Example Sentence 1
Before departing the short field, the pilot checked the accelerate-go distance and confirmed the runway provided enough room to continue the takeoff if an engine failed at decision speed.
Example Sentence 2
If the accelerate-go distance exceeds the runway length, the pilot must reduce weight or wait for cooler temperatures before attempting takeoff.