# PA.IV.F — Short-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL, AMEL) — Private Pilot Airplane ACS

> PA.IV.F from FAA-S-ACS-6C, including the official objective, references, notes, and 29 exact knowledge, risk-management, and skill descriptions.

Canonical HTML: [https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/airplane/private-pilot/pa-iv-f](https://www.check-ride.ai/acs/airplane/private-pilot/pa-iv-f)

Site reference: [https://www.check-ride.ai/llms.txt](https://www.check-ride.ai/llms.txt)

## Official Task context

- FAA document: Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards
- Identifier: FAA-S-ACS-6C
- Published source date: November 2023
- Aircraft category: Airplane
- Certificate or rating: Private Pilot
- Area of Operation: Area of Operation IV. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
- Task: Task F. Short-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL, AMEL)
- Task code prefix: PA.IV.F
- Official references: AIM; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM
- FAA source library: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs

## Official Task objective

To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with short-field approach and landing with emphasis on proper use and coordination of flight controls.

## Knowledge elements

- **PA.IV.F.K1** — A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts.
- **PA.IV.F.K2** — Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind, on approach and landing performance.
- **PA.IV.F.K3** — Wind correction techniques on approach and landing.

## Risk management elements

- **PA.IV.F.R1** — Selection of runway based on pilot capability, airplane performance and limitations, available distance, and wind.
- **PA.IV.F.R2** — Effects of:
- **PA.IV.F.R2a** — a. Crosswind
- **PA.IV.F.R2b** — b. Windshear
- **PA.IV.F.R2c** — c. Tailwind
- **PA.IV.F.R2d** — d. Wake turbulence
- **PA.IV.F.R2e** — e. Landing surface/condition
- **PA.IV.F.R3** — Planning for:
- **PA.IV.F.R3a** — a. Rejected landing and go-around
- **PA.IV.F.R3b** — b. Land and hold short operations (LAHSO)
- **PA.IV.F.R4** — Collision hazards.
- **PA.IV.F.R5** — Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
- **PA.IV.F.R6** — Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

## Skills elements

- **PA.IV.F.S1** — Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
- **PA.IV.F.S2** — Make radio calls as appropriate.
- **PA.IV.F.S3** — Ensure the airplane is aligned with the correct/assigned runway.
- **PA.IV.F.S4** — Scan the landing runway and adjoining area for traffic and obstructions.
- **PA.IV.F.S5** — Select and aim for a suitable touchdown point considering the wind conditions, landing surface, and obstructions.
- **PA.IV.F.S6** — Establish the recommended approach and landing configuration, airspeed, and trim, and adjust pitch attitude and power as required to maintain a stabilized approach.
- **PA.IV.F.S7** — Maintain manufacturer’s published approach airspeed or in its absence not more than 1.3 VSO, +10/-5 knots with gust factor applied.
- **PA.IV.F.S8** — Maintain directional control and appropriate crosswind correction throughout the approach and landing.
- **PA.IV.F.S9** — Make smooth, timely, and correct control application before, during, and after touchdown.
- **PA.IV.F.S10** — Touch down at a proper pitch attitude within 200 feet beyond or on the specified point, threshold markings, or runway numbers, with no side drift, minimum float, and with the airplane's longitudinal axis aligned with and over the runway centerline.
- **PA.IV.F.S11** — Use manufacturer’s recommended procedures for airplane configuration and braking.
- **PA.IV.F.S12** — Execute a timely go-around if the approach cannot be made within the tolerances specified above or for any other condition that may result in an unsafe approach or landing.
- **PA.IV.F.S13** — Use runway incursion avoidance procedures, if applicable.

## Difficulty methodology

Difficulty calibration is ongoing for this Task. Observed difficulty is a privacy-thresholded check-ride.ai mock-oral practice proxy, not an FAA practical-test pass or fail rate. Underlying sample sizes and the private reporting threshold are not published.

## Use in practice

A mock examiner can ask a pilot to explain the published elements, apply them to the configured aircraft and airport context, identify risks, and defend a decision. Practice prompts are not represented as actual FAA examiner scripts or predictions of the questions a candidate will receive.