These are representative C172 checklists for training and chair-flying. The only authoritative checklist is the one in your aircraft’s FAA-approved AFM/POH. Verify every item against it.
Preflight briefing checklist
Instructor + student, before every flight.
- Lesson objectives & completion standardsreviewed
- Maneuvers, sequence & expected outcomesbriefed
- Weather / self-brief & Leidos briefingobtained
- NOTAMs / TFRs / airspacechecked
- Personal minimums & go/no-gogo
- Weight & balance / performancewithin limits
- Fuel plan & reservesconfirmed
- Emergency plan / runway available / abort pointbriefed
- Positive exchange of flight controlsreviewed
- Sterile cockpit / task sharing / radiosagreed
Before starting engine
- Preflight inspectioncomplete
- Passenger briefing (seatbelts, doors, egress)complete
- Seats, belts, harnessesadjust & lock
- Brakestest & hold
- Circuit breakersin
- Avionics / electricaloff
- Fuel selectorboth
Engine start
- Mixturerich
- Throttleopen ¼"
- Beaconon
- Prop areaclear
- Ignitionstart
- Oil pressurecheck <30s
Before takeoff (run-up)
- Cabin doors / windowsclosed & locked
- Flight controlsfree & correct
- Instruments & altimeterset
- Throttle 1800 RPM — magscheck drop
- Carb heatcheck
- Engine instruments & suctiongreen
- Trimtakeoff
- Flapsas required
- Takeoff / departure / emergency briefingcomplete
Cruise · Descent · Before landing
- Cruise power & mixture leanset
- Engine gauges / fuelmonitor
- ATIS / altimeter (descent)set
- Fuel selector both, mixture richset
- Landing light / seatbeltson
- Airspeeds & flaps as requiredset
After landing · Shutdown · Securing
- Flaps up · carb heat cold · lights as req'ddone
- Avionics off · mixture idle cutoffdone
- Ignition off · master offdone
- Controls locked · tie down · chockssecure
- Hobbs/Tach recorded · squawks loggeddone
Emergencies (memory items)
Engine failure in flight
- Airspeed — best glide (~68 KIAS)pitch
- Best field — within gliding distanceselect
- Flow: fuel both · mixture rich · carb heat on · mags both · primer inattempt restart
- No restart — MAYDAY 121.5 · squawk 7700declare
- Secure: mixture ICO · fuel off · mags off · master off (before touchdown)secure
- Doors cracked · belts tight · flaps as neededbrace
Memory-item wording is generic. Fly the airplane, then the checklist. Use your AFM/POH.
Postflight debrief checklist
- What went welldiscuss
- Objectives met vs. completion standardsassess
- Errors, causes & correctionsanalyze
- Risk decisions made in flightreview
- Homework / next lesson previewassign
- Logbook entries & endorsementscomplete
- Aircraft squawks / discrepanciesreported