Definition
An emergency landing in which the pilot accepts that the airplane will be substantially damaged or destroyed during the touchdown, with the primary objective being to protect the lives of the occupants rather than to save the aircraft. It is conducted when conditions make a survivable controlled touchdown impossible to achieve without significant airframe damage, such as landing in trees, water, rough terrain, or with a failed landing gear or major structural problem.
Plain English
A landing where you know the airplane is going to be wrecked, and your only goal is to keep the people inside alive. You're trading the airplane for the occupants.
Context Anchor
Seen in emergency landing discussions, especially when comparing the goal of a controlled emergency landing with the risk of an uncontrolled impact.
Derivation
Crash comes from an old word meaning to break or strike with a loud noise. Landing means bringing an aircraft down to the surface. Together, the phrase points to a landing where the contact with the surface is damaging or violent, not just firm or poorly done.
Why Pilots Care
Distinguishes outcomes where aircraft damage is expected from controlled emergency landings that may avoid damage.
Intuition Check
A crash landing does not mean the pilot simply stops flying the airplane. It means the landing or impact is severe enough that damage or injury is likely, even though the pilot may still be trying to control the airplane.
Example Sentence 1
With both fuel tanks dry and only trees below, the pilot prepared for a crash landing, focusing on slowing the airplane and keeping the cabin level at impact.
Example Sentence 2
The post-incident report classified the event as a crash landing due to substantial airframe damage.