After Landing, Parking & Securing

• Clear the runway promptly at the first available taxiway. Do not slow roll on the runway.
• Once clear, complete the After Landing checklist: carb heat off, flaps up, transponder to standby or ALT, lights as appropriate.
• Contact ground control (if towered) before leaving the runway hold-short area: "Clear of [runway], taxi to parking."
• At non-towered airports: announce clear of runway on CTAF.

Follow the POH shutdown checklist. Typical sequence:
• Avionics off (before master off to protect avionics from voltage spike)
• Set parking brake
• Run engine at reduced power for 1–2 min (cool-down, especially turbo engines)
• Mixture to IDLE CUTOFF (kills fuel to engine — engine stops cleanly)
• Magnetos off AFTER engine stops
• Master switch off
• Control lock installed

Never shut down by turning off the magnetos first — residual fuel can cause engine kickback or afterfire.

• Tie-down: All three tie-down points (two wings, tail). Use bowline knots or aircraft tie-down straps — not slip knots. Snug but not so tight as to cause structural stress.
• Chocks: Main wheels chocked if available, especially on slopes.
• Pitot cover: Install to prevent insects from blocking the pitot tube.
• Control lock: Prevents wind damage to control surfaces.
• Fuel: Top off tanks after flight to minimize condensation in fuel tanks overnight.

Required to log (14 CFR 61.51): flight time used to meet experience requirements (training time, XC, night, instrument, etc.).

Good practice to log: Every flight. Include: date, departure/arrival airports, total flight time, aircraft make/model/N-number, conditions (day/night), approaches, landings, remarks.

Close VFR flight plan: If filed, close with FSS immediately after landing — by radio or phone (1-800-WX-BRIEF). If not closed within 30 min of ETA, SAR is initiated.

Squawks: Note any aircraft discrepancies observed during flight in writing. If airworthiness is affected, aircraft must be grounded until repaired and signed off.