What causes a floating landing error?

A floating landing error occurs when the aircraft remains airborne longer than necessary during the landing phase, resulting in a landing that does not occur at the intended touchdown point on the runway. The correct answer revolves around the relationship between the timing of power reduction and the aircraft's airspeed during the landing approach.

When power is not reduced at the appropriate time, and excessive airspeed is maintained, the aircraft may float above the runway due to the remaining lift generated by the wings. This can lead to a prolonged landing and often results in the pilot having difficulty controlling the descent rate, ultimately causing the landing to occur farther down the runway than intended. In contrast, other factors such as the timing of the flare or touchdown technique do influence landing quality but do not specifically result in the phenomenon of floating during the approach.

In summary, maintaining excessive airspeed due to a late power reduction is what directly contributes to a floating landing, as it prevents the aircraft from descending and landing as expected.