Definition
The phase of a crosswind landing that begins after the wheels are on the runway and continues until the airplane has slowed to taxi speed, during which the pilot must continue to manage the crosswind by progressively increasing aileron deflection into the wind while using rudder to maintain directional control along the runway centerline.
Plain English
The part of a crosswind landing after the wheels touch down, while the airplane is still rolling down the runway. The wind is still pushing on the airplane, so the pilot keeps steering with the rudder and turning the control wheel further into the wind as the airplane slows down.
Context Anchor
You encounter this during landing practice and in FAA guidance on how to handle the airplane after touchdown in a side wind.
Derivation
“Crosswind” means wind crossing the runway from the side. “After-landing” means after touchdown. “Roll” here means the airplane’s movement on its wheels along the runway, not the airplane banking in flight.
Why Pilots Care
Failure to manage this phase allows the airplane to drift or turn into the wind, risking a runway excursion or ground loop.
Grounding Statement
The airplane is no longer flying, but the wind is still acting on it while it rolls down the runway.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the landing is finished as soon as the wheels touch down. In a crosswind, control must continue through the after-landing roll until the airplane is slowed and safely under control.
Example Sentence 1
During the crosswind after-landing roll, the student gradually turned the control wheel further into the wind as the airplane decelerated.
Example Sentence 2
Once the airplane reached taxi speed, the crosswind after-landing roll was complete and the pilot could turn off the active runway.