Technical Q&A

When can you descend below the MDA or DA on an instrument approach?

By the Captain · Reviewed against FAA sources · Updated July 4, 2026 · About the captain

You may descend below the MDA or DA only when three conditions are met at the same time: you have the required flight visibility for the approach, the aircraft is continuously in a position from which a normal descent to landing on the intended runway can be made at a normal rate using normal maneuvers, and at least one of the visual references for the intended runway is distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot.

The list of qualifying visual references includes items such as the approach light system, the threshold, the threshold markings, the threshold lights, the runway end identifier lights, the visual approach slope indicator, the touchdown zone, the touchdown zone markings or lights, and the runway or runway markings and lights.

14 CFR 91.175(c)

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