•  Failure to establish proper configuration prior to spin entry. •  Failure to correct airspeed for spin entry. •  Failure to recognize conditions leading to a spin. •  Failure to achieve and maintain stall during spin entry. •  Improper use of controls during spin entry, rotation,  and/or recovery. •  Disorientation during spin. •  Failure to distinguish a spiral dive from a spin. •  Excessive speed or secondary stall during spin  recovery. •  Failure to recover with minimum loss of altitude. •  Failure to recover above minimum altitude with a  landing area within gliding distance. •  Recognizing the possibility of imminent off-field  landing. •  Selecting a suitable area, then a suitable landing field  within that area. •  Planning the approach with wind, obstacles, and local  terrain in mind. •  Executing the approach, land, and then stopping the  glider as soon as possible. •  Attempting to contact ground crew and notifying them  of off-field landing location. The possibility of an off-field landing is present on virtually  every cross-country soaring flight, even when flying in a self- launching glider. If the engine or power system fails and there  is no airport within gliding range, an off-field landing may  be inevitable. It should be noted that many glider pilots not  flying cross-country have faced the necessity of performing  an off-field landing. Causes of off-field landings while  soaring in the vicinity of the launching airport, include rapid  weather deterioration, a significant change in wind direction,  unanticipated amounts of sinking air, disorientation, lack of  situational awareness, tow failures, and other emergencies  requiring an off-field landing. In these situations, it usually  is safer to make a precautionary off-field landing than it is to  attempt a low, straight-in approach to the airport. If the glide  back to the airport comes up short for any reason, the landing  is likely to be poorly executed and may result in damage to  the glider or injury to the pilot. The most common off-field landing planning failure is denial.  The pilot, understandably eager to continue the flight and  return to an airport, is often reluctant to initiate planning for  an off-field landing because, in the pilot’s mind, to do so  probably results in such a landing. It would be better, the pilot  thinks, to concentrate on continuing the flight and finding a  way to climb back up and fly away. The danger of this false  optimism is that there is little or no time to plan an off-field  landing if the attempt to climb away does not succeed. It  is much safer to thoroughly understand the techniques of  planning an off-field landing and to be prepared for the  occurrence at any time. have the discipline to select a suitable landing area while  height remains to allow sufficient time to perform a safe  approach and landing, and the ability to make consistently  accurate landings in the glider type being flown. These basic ingredients for a successful off-field landing can  be summarized as follows: Wind awareness, knowing wind direction and intensity, is key  when planning an off-field landing. Flying downwind offers  a greater geographical area to search than flying upwind. The  tailwind during downwind cruise results in a greater range;  a headwind during upwind cruise reduces the range. Wind  awareness is also essential to planning the orientation and  direction of the landing approach. Visualize the wind flowing  over and around the intended landing area. Remember that  the area downwind of hills, buildings, and other obstructions  will probably be turbulent at low altitude. Also, be aware that  landing into wind shortens landing rolls. Decision heights are altitudes at which pilots take critical steps  in the off-field landing process. If the terrain below is suitable  for landing, select a general area no lower than 2,000 feet  above ground level (AGL). Select the intended landing field  no lower than 1,500 feet AGL. At 1,000 feet AGL, commit to  flying the approach and landing off field. If the terrain below  is not acceptable for an off-field landing, the best course of  action is to move immediately toward more suitable terrain. On cross-country soaring flights, off-field landings are not  usually considered emergency landings. As a matter of fact,  they are expected and are considered while preparing for  flight. On the other hand, if equipment failure leads to the  necessity of performing an off-field landing, then the landing  can be characterized or described as an emergency landing.  Whatever the reason for the off-field landing, each glider  pilot must be prepared at all times to plan and execute the  landing safely. Unlike airport landings, no off-field landing is entirely  routine. An extra measure of care must be undertaken to  achieve a safe outcome. The basic ingredients for a successful  off-field landing are awareness of wind direction, wind  strength at the surface, and approach path obstacles. The  glider pilot must be able to identify suitable landing areas,  8-18 Off-Field Landing Procedures