Definition
A missed approach is the procedure flown when a pilot is unable to continue an instrument approach to a landing. During a circling approach, a missed approach is executed when the runway environment is lost from sight, when the pilot cannot maintain the required visual reference, or when a safe landing cannot be made. The pilot must initiate a climbing turn toward the landing runway and continue the turn until established on the published missed approach course.
Plain English
If you can't safely complete the landing from a circling approach, you stop the approach, climb, and turn back toward the runway you were aiming for, then follow the published escape route to a safe altitude and holding point.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument approach procedures, approach briefings, and circling approach training, especially when the pilot must decide whether to continue toward landing or climb away.
Derivation
"Missed" means failed to make or complete; "approach" is the published procedure to get an aircraft from cruise down to the runway under instrument conditions. Together: the procedure used when the approach to land was not completed.
Why Pilots Care
Protects the aircraft from terrain and obstacles when landing conditions are not met and provides a safe, predictable path to re-attempt the approach or divert.
Intuition Check
A missed approach does not mean the pilot forgot the approach or made a mistake. It means the landing could not be safely completed, so the pilot uses the planned climb-away procedure.
Example Sentence 1
When the runway lights faded in the rain during the circling approach, the pilot began a climbing turn toward the runway and flew the published missed approach.
Example Sentence 2
After the missed approach the aircraft climbed to the published altitude and proceeded to the holding fix for another approach attempt.