Turning back is a no-no in most aircraft as the angle of climb is such that there is simply insufficient altitude to make the turn and then reach the field. A turn uses a great deal of height and remember it isn't just 180 degrees to return to the runway. 180 degrees only takes you to a line the radius of your turn displaced, and that isn't likely to be much help. The turn has to be substantially more than 180' and then reversed so its going to be more like 230 minimum.
And by the time you realise you ain't gonna make it back you're completely bggered, too low and heading into the scenery downwind with no choice of where to go, stretching the glide in a downwind turn and.........guess what! That's the simplest formula there is for spin, crash, burn, die. Don't do it!
But I thought everyone knew never to turn back? Surely this is drummed into every student?
Last edited by Agaricus bisporus; 16th Jun 2013 at 00:03.