Plain English Meaning

An approach where the airplane is too low for where it is on final, putting it under the normal descent path to the runway.

Full Definition

A final approach flown below the proper glidepath, in which the airplane arrives at the runway threshold lower than the normal descent profile would place it. The condition typically results from beginning the descent too late, descending too steeply and then leveling off, allowing airspeed to decay so that descent continues without enough thrust, or misjudging the visual approach picture. A low final approach reduces obstacle clearance on and often requires the of to recover the proper glidepath before reaching the .