What are common causes of unstable approaches and typical mitigations?

• A. Late configuration, too high/low speeds, excessive sink rate, gusts; mitigate with go-around, proper stabilization, and timely configurations.
• B. Late configuration but never go around.
• C. High speeds only, no go-around.
• D. Too early configuration and over-stabilization.

Answer: (A)

Unstable approaches happen when the aircraft isn’t properly stabilized in terms of configuration, energy, and flight path as you near the runway. The most common causes are delaying the configuration (like flap and gear setup, pitch/attitude not aligned with the required glide path), letting speeds drift too high or too low, and carrying an excessive sink rate. Gusty winds can push the airplane around and make this even harder to manage. The standard way to handle this is to go around if the approach isn’t stabilized by established criteria, and to restore and maintain proper stabilization with timely configurations and correct speeds so the aircraft can re-establish a controlled, stable descent.

The other patterns don’t fit because they miss essential pieces of the picture. Focusing only on late configuration without acknowledging the role of airspeed, sink rate, and gusts, or assuming a go-around isn’t needed, doesn’t reflect how instability develops. Emphasizing high speeds only, or suggesting no go-around at all, fails to address the corrective actions and the multiple interacting factors that cause instability. Likewise, too early configuration and over-stabilization don’t describe the common sequence of events that lead to an unstable approach.