An emergency maneuver where a pilot lands an aircraft after total engine failure. The pilot must manage altitude and airspeed perfectly to glide to a suitable runway or field, as there is no thrust available to correct a low approach or execute a go-around.
Heard on the job
He pulled off a flawless deadstick landing in a cornfield after the fuel pump quit.
Insider tip
The term originates from early aviation when a stalled engine meant the wooden propeller, often referred to as the stick, stopped spinning.
Also heard as
- deadstick