Originally Posted by
hydrostream
Every Cessna 172 I've flown can land with flaps in any setting desired. Just keep it clean. A legal pilot will have reviewed their performance manual and determined the safe margin for landing in that configuration. Additionally, if a safe landing cannot be assured perform a missed approach.
Anyone who has ever had a Cessna 172 flap motor go out in full flap configuration (or even just pop a circuit breaker while you are otherwise busy) will tell you they would MUCH rather fly IFR approaches clean until landing is assured than have any possibility whatsoever of having to go missed approach with flaps out.
Ask me how I know...