Jim Macklin wrote:
In a typical airplane, you can only see the ground over the
nose that is 1 mile per 1,000 AGL. Loose an engine, better
long down at a 45 degree angle and select the best you can
see where you are, rather than planning a x-c to an airport
on the horizon.

Except that using a 45 degree cone rules out a lot of good landing spots
since even 1,000/mile is much shallower than 45 degrees. Ideally, you
see a spot that close, but if not, I'd keep looking a little farther out.

Matt