The impossible turn

That's what bothers me about the muddling of this subject. The 1000ft return (teardrop) is an academic question of climb performance, glide ratio, runway length, etc. The legendary impossible turn is an engine failure at maybe 3-4 hundred feet where you dump the nose, roll to around 60 or more degrees of bank, turn with the elevator while allowing a mind boggling sink rate only to roll out and land in the grass on the side of the runway. These are two wholly different events and should not be lumped together.

I completely agree with you Bob (As you already described in the story with the instructor and student) the "impossible turn" might not be impossible, but is ill advised.

Dave