Definition
An attempt by the pilot to extend the airplane's glide during final approach by raising the nose to reach a runway that the airplane's current energy and altitude cannot otherwise reach. Raising the nose reduces airspeed and increases the angle of attack, which increases drag and steepens the actual descent path rather than flattening it, often resulting in a landing short of the runway or an aerodynamic stall.
Plain English
Pulling the nose up during final approach to try to make the airplane glide farther to the runway. It does not work — the airplane actually slows down, sinks faster, and may land short or stall.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in landing discussions, especially when learning final approach, glidepath control, and go-around decisions.
Derivation
Stretch' here is used in its everyday sense of trying to make something reach farther than it naturally can. The phrase reflects the pilot's intent — to make the glide reach the runway — not what the airplane actually does in response.
Why Pilots Care
Stretching the final usually produces an unstable, low-energy state that increases the chance of landing short, ballooning, or stalling.
Grounding Statement
If the airplane is low on final and the pilot raises the nose to reach the runway, the airplane may slow down instead of safely carrying farther.
Intuition Check
Do not read “stretch” as a helpful technique here. In this context, stretching the final approach is a warning sign: the pilot is trying to force the airplane to reach the runway instead of correcting the approach safely.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor warned the student not to stretch the final approach when they realized they were low, and instead to add power and maintain approach speed.
Example Sentence 2
Instructors teach pilots never to stretch the final approach when the airplane is high on the glide path.