On May 13, 2005, at 6:35 PM, RicArgente@cs.com wrote:

Subsequently, I learned about the flat plate drag of a windmilling prop and ever since, I never get too far from the runway in the pattern and I'll always be sure to have a height buffer if/when it happens again. 

Kinda validates my previous point about quality of instruction. What the heck are 172's doing in the next area code before turning base? Your pattern should never take you further from a safe touchdown point than can easily be reached after a catastrophic engine failure. When you do this with others in the pattern, you force them to either follow you into the danger zone, or execute a 360 on downwind....

Overhead patterns were originally designed to get as many aircraft on the ground as quickly as possible, but they are also, when properly executed, the safest way to get to the ground as they have the highest margin for error in the event of power loss, which is most likely to occur during a power change. Not to mention they look cool, and that never hurts, either. ;)

Barry