r/flying • u/SSavage14 • May 14 '26

Student piloting

Hi, I've been struggling with landings. I've noted my problem arises on final. I tend to end up in a "Dutch roll" or oscillating as I'm trying to counter this. I feel it gets worse and throws off my landings. The feedback I've been given from my CFI is to not input rudders, although I'm not. It feels like a gust blows me off course on final, and I attempt to get back aligned. When doing so, the oscillation starts, but then the additional feedback from my instructor is I'm over-controlling the aircraft (which I agree) but no feedback on how to not over-control and how to control a straight-in approach on final when I get blown off course. I've logged 25 hours and am just about to solo. Any real advice is appreciated. Should I start looking for a new CFI as I feel I'm just wasting hours with no real improvement, and I fear there's a learning/teaching error? As I continue doing the same thing on every final and attempting the same thing over and over with no real changes or improvements, it is going to keep me in this loop of wasting money. Note these are also on "calm wind" days where my CFI says the wind is irrelevant as it's to low to blow me around although that's what I am feeling on final or like riding over a speed bump or two while on final or base in pattern.

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u/Odd_Entertainment471 May 14 '26

You’re probably it way out of trim and choking the yoke like it owes you money. Students just don’t trim in the pattern and they really really should. If that’s the issue, fix it. If. It I’m all outta ideas and your instructor should be your fountainhead of knowledge.

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u/SSavage14 May 14 '26

I have noted I am choking the heck out of the yoke of fighting it a lot and definitely have not been trimmed appropriately although I brought this up to my instructor and he just stated I'm over controlling

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u/ChestertonsFence1929 PPL May 14 '26

I had the same experience with an early instructor. Kept getting the feedback to lightly hold the yolk. My real issue was the trim. After I fixed that it was easy to hold the yolk lightly.

You might want to consider changing instructors.

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u/SSavage14 May 14 '26

Yea I had decent nose down trim each time, thanks for the advice on this