Definition
Applying more control input than is needed to correct a deviation, causing the aircraft to swing past the desired condition and create a new deviation in the opposite direction. In instrument flying, it commonly refers to making excessive pitch, bank, or power changes in response to instrument indications, especially when chasing a lagging instrument like the vertical speed indicator (VSI).
Plain English
Pushing or pulling too hard when fixing a small error, so the aircraft overshoots and you end up with a new error going the other way.
Context Anchor
Seen during instrument flying when using the vertical speed indicator to hold level flight, climb, or descend at a chosen rate.
Derivation
Built from 'over-' (too much) and 'correcting' (fixing an error). The combined word literally means fixing something by more than was needed.
Why Pilots Care
Overcorrecting creates pilot-induced oscillations that increase workload and can lead to loss of control in instrument conditions.
Analogy
It is like steering a car back and forth too much within a lane. Each big correction creates the need for another correction in the opposite direction.
Intuition Check
Overcorrecting does not mean simply correcting an error. It means correcting by too much, too soon, or too often.
Example Sentence 1
When the VSI showed a 200 fpm descent, the student pulled back too sharply and ended up climbing at 500 fpm — a classic case of overcorrecting.
Example Sentence 2
Small, smooth inputs prevent overcorrecting when chasing altitude on the VSI during level flight.