If the ground slope is between 8 and 15 degrees, how should the aircraft land?

• A. On a level surface
• B. Upslope
• C. Side slope (8 to 15 degrees)
• D. On a downhill slope

Answer: (C)

When the ground is sloped, where you touch down changes how weight shifts and how the aircraft will tend to move during touchdown and rollout. For a slope in the 8–15 degree range, landing on the side of the slope provides the most stable contact and helps prevent the aircraft from rolling downhill or tipping. The side-slope touchdown allows the weight to be supported across the slope in a way that resists a sudden slide toward the lower grade and makes it easier to maintain directional control as you roll out. In this range, other options—landing on a level surface when one isn’t level, or aiming uphill or downhill—are more prone to tipping, sliding, or losing control because gravity acts directly along the slope in those cases. So, side slope landings in that 8–15 degree band offer the best balance of stability and controllability.