crash-land

The pilot had to crash-land the small plane in a field.

Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To land an aircraft in an emergency, often with damage: "crash-land" means to bring an aircraft to the ground in a situation where a normal landing is impossible, typically resulting in a sudden or violent stop, and often causing damage to the aircraft.
   • To land hastily without use of landing gear: In aviation, it specifically refers to landing an aircraft without using its wheels (undercarriage), often because the gear is malfunctioning or the landing must be made on an unprepared surface.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause an aircraft to land in such a manner: The pilot can "crash-land" the aircraft deliberately to avoid a worse outcome, such as a crash in a populated area.

Usage Examples

• Intransitive verb:

  • The pilot was forced to crash-land in a field after the engine failed. (The pilot landed the plane in an emergency, causing damage, in a field.)
  • The helicopter crash-landed on the roof of the building. (The helicopter made an emergency landing on the roof, likely with impact.)

• Transitive verb:

  • The crew crash-landed the plane on the runway to avoid hitting houses. (The crew deliberately caused the plane to land roughly on the runway.)

Advanced Usage

• "to crash-land a vehicle": Can be used metaphorically for any vehicle or object that lands abruptly and destructively.
  • The drone crash-landed in the garden after losing signal. (The drone fell and landed with force in the garden.)
• "crash-landing" (noun form): The act or event of crash-landing.
  • The crash-landing was successful, and all passengers survived. (The emergency landing was completed without fatalities.)

Variants and Related Words

• Crash-landing (noun): the event or instance of crash-landing.
  • The pilot performed a textbook crash-landing. (A perfectly executed emergency landing.)
• Crash (verb/noun): to collide violently; a sudden loud noise or impact. (Note: "crash-land" is a compound verb, not a synonym of "crash" alone.)
• Land (verb): to come down to the ground from the air. (Note: "crash-land" modifies "land" by adding the element of emergency or damage.)

Synonyms

• Emergency land: to land an aircraft under urgent circumstances.
• Force-land: to land because of mechanical failure or other necessity.

Phrasal Verbs

• Crash down: to fall or collapse with a loud noise (not specific to aircraft).
  • The tree crashed down during the storm. (The tree fell heavily.)
• Land safely: to land without damage (opposite of crash-land).
  • Despite the problem, the pilot managed to land safely. (The landing was normal and without incident.)

Related Idioms

• Crash and burn: to fail spectacularly (often used metaphorically, not literally for aircraft).
  • His business plan crashed and burned after the first year. (It failed completely.)
• Touch down: to land (general term, not implying emergency).
  • The plane touched down smoothly. (It landed normally.)

Note: "crash-land" is a specific verb used almost exclusively in aviation or metaphorical contexts involving abrupt, damaging landings. It is not interchangeable with "crash" alone, which implies a collision or destruction without controlled landing.