Unstable approach — UAL8171

K6S8 · 22

2026-07-18 03:04 UTC· KDEN K6S8· UNITED AIRLINES INC· B739

UAL8171 (United Airlines) was operating from KDEN to K6S8 on 2026-07-18. SkyMeter detected a low approach-stability score at Laurel Municipal Airport (K6S8) on runway 22 at 03:04 UTC. Trace data at the event: 4560 ft AGL, 191 kt GS. Approach stability score: 39/100. Scores below 50 occur on under 10% of approaches at this runway and indicate the v2 scorer flagged the approach as highly anomalous (three or more gates exceeded the runway's P90 envelope simultaneously). METAR at the time reported 5 kt wind, 2 kt crosswind component, 16,093 m visibility. The approach-stability score rates the final approach against stabilized-approach gates (glideslope, lateral deviation, descent rate, and IAS) at defined altitudes. A low score means one or more of those were outside the normal envelope for how the approach was flown. The score is graded by guidance type, so instrument approaches (ILS or an aligned straight-in) are held to the full gate set, while visual and pattern arrivals are surfaced only when the score is clearly low. The score is advisory and observational, a deviation measure, not an assertion of an accident. Detection algorithm and known limitations: see SkyMeter methodology.

Active FAA TFR during this flight

Source: FAA TFR archive (hourly snapshot)
  • HAZARDS6/5152 2026-07-13 04:00Z – 2026-07-27 04:00Z SFC–15,000 ft

    14NM S STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO, Monday, July 13, 2026 through Monday, July 27, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/5875 2026-07-15 04:00Z – 2026-07-30 04:00Z SFC–12,000 ft

    19NM SW MEEKER, CO, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Thursday, July 30, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/5876 2026-07-15 04:00Z – 2026-07-30 04:00Z SFC–13,500 ft

    7NM SE STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Thursday, July 30, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • SECURITY6/5841 2026-07-16 13:00Z – 2026-07-27 05:59Z SFC–400 ft

    Cheyenne, WY, Thursday, July 16, 2026 through Sunday, July 26, 2026 Local

    View FAA NOTAM →

SkyMeter cross-referenced this flight against FAA-published TFRs that were active during its window and within its geographic bounding box. Overlap doesn't necessarily mean violation — the aircraft may have been outside the TFR’s precise polygon or flying under air-traffic-control coordination.

Pilot review data

  • Runway 22
  • 4560 ft AGL at event
  • 191 kt ground speed
  • 0 fpm vertical
  • Approach stability 39/100
  • 5 kt wind
  • 2 kt crosswind component
  • 16,093 m visibility
  • METAR K6S8 160455Z AUTO 02013KT 10SM CLR 14/03 A3004 RMK A01

Flight context

  • UAL8171
  • United Airlines
  • B739
  • KDEN → K6S8
  • 2026-07-18 03:04 UTC
  • K6S8 runway 22

Automated analysis. Events shown on this page (such as go-around, unstable approach, or runway events) are heuristic classifications produced by algorithms from publicly broadcast ADS-B data. They are intended to surface flights of interest for further review — they are not findings of fact, and they do not determine pilot fault, regulatory compliance, or the cause of any occurrence. Coverage gaps and sensor noise can affect accuracy. Only the relevant civil aviation authority or accident investigation body can make official determinations. How we detect events · Dispute or correct this data

SkyMeter · trace data observed via ADS-B· K6S8