If you experience an ENGINE FAILURE at night, the BEST initial action is to

Choices

• land immediately wherever you are.

  First action is always pitch for Vbg, not random landing.

• ✓ establish best-glide airspeed.correct

  Vbg), turn toward the brightest visible area (suggesting a populated/lighted region with possible airport or road), declare emergency on 121.5, attempt restart, and use landing light at ~200 ft AGL to identify obstacles. Night engine failure: pitch for Vbg first (always). Turn toward lighted areas — they suggest populated regions with possible roads, airports, or open fields. Declare on 121.5 (everyone monitors). Attempt restart per checklist. Below 500 ft AGL, turn on landing light to spot obstacles for the forced landing. Don't circle randomly — every second loses 700+ ft of altitude.

• shut everything off to save battery.

  Need radios, lights, and instruments to live through this.

• circle the area looking for an airport.

  Circling without best-glide loses critical altitude.