Cessna 152 Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) Practice Exam

When an engine fails right after liftoff, the priority is to control the airplane and glide to a safe landing area using the best glide speed for the airplane in the current configuration. That speed gives you the greatest distance forward for each foot of altitude lost, while staying out of the stall. For a Cessna 152, the best glide speed is about 60 KIAS, so 60 KIAS is used as the initial airspeed reference in this EFATO scenario. Speeds slower than that bring you closer to stall; faster speeds increase drag and reduce glide distance, making it harder to reach a suitable landing site.