"Harold" wrote in message .. .
If a small single engine plane can out-climb its engine-out glide ratio from
take off through the top of climb point, wouldn't it follow that it can
always theoretically make it back to the departure airport in the event of
engine failure ? Assuming straight out departure, no wind, and the altitude
loss in the 180 turnback is offset by the runway portion you didn't use. If
my best glide is 85 KTAS and it loses 700 fpm at that speed, shouldn't I be
guaranteed I can make it back if I climb at 84 KTAS and 701 fpm ?

I have a close friend who was an experienced pilot (IFR rating - 6
years of flying - owned his own plane) and had engine failure on
takeoff and did not make it back to the airport. He was practicing a
short field take off which probably didn't help the situation but
impacted terrain about 1/4 mile short of the runway (he hit power
lines that were right next to this airport). Anyway, he died of
injuries from the crash. The wing sheared during the impact dumping
fuel into the cockpit and started a bad fire but fortunately death
occurred upon impact.

Reports placed him at about 700 ft of altitude when engine failure
occurred but it could have been lower than this value.