At the risk of hashing this thing to death, I would like to add me 2 cents worth.
I am presently reading "Better Takeoffs and Landings" by Michael C. Love which is a McGraw Hill publication. Keeping in mind the "grain of salt" rule, he has a nice explanation of the 180 back to the field. He quots from FAA document FAA-P8740. Some people have touched on some of the points alluded to in that document. The 180 can will put you "downwind" not on final requiring more height than the 180 alone. Keeping in mind the surprise factor and a good case of nerves, you can take as much as 1000 feet to make your turn back to the field. In other words, most of us can't make it. Tighening up the turn can help but crowd it around with some rudder and pull the nose up and you will get a fine view of the ground out the windscreen just before you hit. The turn back to the field must unquestionably be a great temptress as all too many people succombe to her charms. Land somewhere ahead (not necessarily straight ahead, but ahead). Even controlled flight into trees beats drilling for oil with a light aircraft. One local pilot made a turn back to field with a Tiger Moth and almost made it (he landed in the pucker brush alongside the runway causing minor damage to the airplane). After that, he allowed his course to drift to the right enough to allow him to line up on the runway in the event he ever needed to make that turn back. Take my comments for what they are, only comments. In my mind, I am not good enough to get turned back so my only alternative is to land ahead. I only hope I never have to find out if I have the guts to stick with it.
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