Which statement about missed approaches is true?

• A. A stabilized approach cannot be established
• B. On final approach equipment failure changes minimums
• C. Both above
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

When thinking about missed approaches, two conditions clearly call for going around: you can’t establish a safe, stabilized approach, or a failure on the final approach that affects the published minimums.

A stabilized approach means the aircraft is configured, on the correct flight path, at the right speed, and in a consistent descent profile as you near the runway. If you can’t achieve or maintain that stabilized state by the point where you’d normally land, continuing the approach becomes unsafe. In practice, you’ll execute a missed approach to reset and reconfigure for a safe alternate.

On the other hand, a failure of final approach equipment changes what you’re allowed to do with the approach. The published minimums assume certain equipment is operative. If that equipment is inoperative, the minimums can be raised or the approach may not be authorized at all. In that situation, you either apply the higher minimums or choose another approach, and a go-around may be required if you can’t meet the revised criteria.

Since both situations describe legitimate reasons to perform a missed approach, the statement that covers both is correct.