Originally Posted by
250 or point 65
it would be very easy to look at the scenario and blame that. Throw in your embarrassment and it would be even easier.
This would be:
Rationalization & Projection, wonderful little defense mechanisms. I always like pointing this stuff out because I don't see many CFI's paying attention to the psychological, taught in the FOI.
As for the carrying in more speed, I don't know what you consider to be too fast but I use 60-65. I don't do it because the reasons you mentioned, however. Instead I do it to give me a better feel on the controls, dropping bellow 60 on a 172 starts to get sloppy by my standards. Heck the airplane controls as is are too sloppy for my liking. I enjoy moving the controls and seeing the aircraft immediately react, makes me feel in control.
I always prefer faster approaches for this reason, I slow it up to 60 by my planned level off, energy management. I level off at 30-50 feet and allows the rest of the speed to bleed off nicely putting me just above the runway at about 40-45 knots slowing rapidly for the final flare and touchdown.