Definition
An accident that occurs during the final approach phase of flight, typically caused by misjudgment of the airplane's height, distance, or descent path relative to the runway. Approach accidents are frequently linked to visual illusions, poor visibility, unfamiliar terrain, or runway environments that distort the pilot's perception of a normal glidepath.
Plain English
A crash or serious mishap that happens while the airplane is on its final descent toward the runway, usually because the pilot misread how high, low, close, or far they were.
Context Anchor
Seen in landing training, accident prevention discussions, and sections about visual illusions that can mislead a pilot during the last part of the flight before landing.
Derivation
Approach comes from an old French word meaning “to come nearer.” Accident comes from Latin roots meaning “something that happens.” Together, the term points to an unwanted event that happens while the airplane is coming nearer to the runway for landing.
Why Pilots Care
Understanding approach accidents helps pilots recognize illusion risks and use cross-checks or go-arounds to stay safe.
Intuition Check
Do not read approach accident as just any accident near an airport. Here, approach means the part of the flight when the airplane is being flown toward the runway to land.
Example Sentence 1
Studies show that many approach accidents occur at night when the runway environment offers few visual cues for judging height.
Example Sentence 2
Runway width illusions are a common factor in approach accidents when pilots land long or short of the intended touchdown point.