Recovery from a Nose Low Unusual Attitude
Posted on November 14, 2011 by jalsip
Angle of attack is key in recovery from stalls, and avoiding deadly mishaps in turns. Angle of attack is also key in recovery from any unusual attitude. To recover from a nose low, wing low unusual attitude:
- do not stall! Hold neutral elevator
- use top rudder with aileron to roll the wings level
- apply elevator back pressure only from wings level attitude.
Make this maneuver instinctive – I could save your life! Use top rudder with aileron in the same direction to recover from:

Use top rudder to recover from any nose low, wing low unusual attitude. Top rudder actually refers to the top rudder peddle, the rudder peddle on the high side of the cockpit, the peddle under the pilots top foot. In this photo, top rudder is the right peddle.
An Over Banking Steep Turn
When an airplane reaches a bank near 40 degrees, it will begin to over bank; the bank increases without use of the ailerons. When pilots find themselves in this situation they tend to use out turn aileron. The better choice is to use top rudder with ailerons in the same direction.
A Wing Low Attitude After Recovery from a Stall
During a stall it is typical for the airplane to drop a wing. What is the best practice for lifting a wing after stall recovery? That’s right, top rudder with aileron in the same direction.
An Upset to Inverted
An encounter with wake turbulence can upset an aircraft to a nose low, wing low inverted attitude. The situation is usually dire if it happens at a low altitude, maybe on a short final. Upset to inverted? What are we going to do? That’s right top rudder and aileron in the same direction.
Remember, the definitive principle during emergency maneuvers and when recovering from unusual attitudes is do not stall. Maintain neutral elevator when using top rudder to recover from a nose low, wing low attitude.
Previous Article