Tail wind Landing

[Tim]

Last Saturday I decided to go see some friends of mine at a long grass strip (2200ft) 20 miles north of my strip here in NY. state. I left at 10:00 AM out of my strip (850ft) with the wind from the north at about 15mph. No problem my strip is north,south. When I was up there we all commented on how the wind had picked up. I said no porblem it's from the north. I left there about 12:00 noon, and had a very rough ride home. On the way I dialed up Albany ATIS. The important thing was Wind 290deg at 27 gust to 37. I said to myself this should be fun, or not.
My strip is in a valley, with 1800foot mountains ( or hills ) 1/2 mile on either side, and when the wind is from 270 through about 310deg. it can blow from the north or south on my strip, and change in a heart beat.
I have 50ft. trees 400ft from each end of the runway, and on the fourth try on a goaround with a 25 or 30 mph tail wind I saw the tops of oak trees coming up fast. Full power stick way back I raised the right wing and just brushed the tops. After I started to breathe again, I decided to go to Bennington (DDH) 5 miles away, land on the grass, 1200ft wind dead on the nose and have my wife come and get me.
I went and got my airplane at 7:00 that night. The wind was down to 15mph and down the runway.
I've had this happen before and everytime I say this will be the last time I try to get in here with that kind of wind. But when it's time to fly it's time to fly.

Tim
2+2

 

[murph]

Tim:

You're a good man. You lived to fly another day. I'd love to see your beautiful place.

murph

 

[supercub]

Tail Wind Landing

Good Choice...........made late in the game...........would obviously had been a better choice earlier. First off.......tail wind landsing are a big no, no as far as I'm concerned.............fist off..........let's take a look at just a 10 mph wind.........A super cub (PA-18-150) stalls (Vso) at 43mph......so.......if we are landing into a headwind.....then our touch down (figuring a full stall landing) is 33 mph ground speed..........now, if we land with the same wind on our tail.......we'll be touching down at a whopping 53mph ground speed.......takes a lot longer to slow that mass down..even though it is a light weight cub. My POH for the super cub doesn't have landing performance charts....but go take a look at a C-172 or any landing performance charts, and you'll see a big, big difference in landing distances from a headwind to a tailwind. As far as "when it's time to fly, it's time to fly" Throw that out and think about........ "Good Flights are the direct results of Good decisions" think about it. Happy Flying and be safe. "Brian"
PS.......and yes, I know that tailwind landings are unavoidable at times.........but again......make good decisions.....and make them early.

 

[PA12driver]

most overlooked about tail wind landings is the fact that if there is a tail wind and you have to go around on a strip with trees, or in a valley or even with buildings you will most definetely get a rotor from some where that that may make climb out impossible? Also if th wind switches after you land and you got the yoke in your lamp that same tail wind can pick the tail up and put you on your ear (in a heart beat)

glad to see you made the decision to go elswere and call momma, It took me 7 years to replace my cub last bad decision? Besides someone you may not like might be raising your kids and marrying your wife when your gone (I didn't like that proposition either!

Tim