Definition
Turns flown with the aircraft slipping or skidding because the rudder and aileron inputs are not properly matched, leaving the aircraft's longitudinal axis out of alignment with its flight path. The result is sideways force on the airframe and on the occupants.
Plain English
A turn where the airplane is sliding sideways through the air instead of curving smoothly around the corner, because the pilot is using too much or too little rudder for the bank.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when checking the turn coordinator or slip/skid ball, and in discussions of inner-ear sensations during turns.
Derivation
Coordinated comes from the Latin co- (together) and ordinare (to arrange). A coordinated turn has all the controls working together. Uncoordinated means they aren't.
Why Pilots Care
Uncoordinated turns reduce efficiency, increase drag, and can contribute to loss of control or disorientation in instrument conditions.
Grounding Statement
Picture a car taking a corner too fast: passengers slide toward one door. In an uncoordinated turn, the same sideways slide happens in the cockpit -- the ball in the inclinometer slips off-center, and so does the pilot.
Intuition Check
Uncoordinated does not mean simply “clumsy” or “poorly planned” here. It means the airplane is not lined up cleanly with its curved path and is sliding sideways during the turn.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor pointed out that uncoordinated turns in the clouds can quickly produce false sensations of climbing or descending.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot added rudder pressure to eliminate uncoordinated turns while entering the holding pattern.