diff --git a/cruiseMissile.cpp b/cruiseMissile.cpp
index 76424ae..c4f52b3 100644
--- a/cruiseMissile.cpp
+++ b/cruiseMissile.cpp
@@ -21,22 +21,16 @@ namespace battleship{
 		orientAt(Quaternion(angle, Vector3::VEC_J) * rot);
 	}
 
-	//TODO clean up method code
-	void CruiseMissile::pitch(float rotAngle){
+	void CruiseMissile::pitch(float rotAngle, Vector3 compVec){
 		float minHeight = 20;
+		float angleToCompVec = dirVec.getAngleBetween(compVec);
+		float angle = (angleToCompVec > rotAngle ? rotAngle : angleToCompVec);
 
 		if(flightStage == FlightStage::ASCENT && pos.y - initPos.y > minHeight){
-			Vector3 horDir = Vector3(dirVec.x, 0, dirVec.z).norm();
-			float angleToVertDir = dirVec.getAngleBetween(horDir);
-			Quaternion rotQuat = Quaternion(angleToVertDir > rotAngle ? rotAngle : angleToVertDir, leftVec) * rot; 
-			orientAt(rotQuat);
-
-			if(dirVec.y <= 0)
-				flightStage = FlightStage::CRUISE;
+			orientAt(Quaternion(angle, leftVec) * rot);
+			if(dirVec.y <= 0) flightStage = FlightStage::CRUISE;
 		}
 		else if(flightStage == FlightStage::DESCENT){
-			float angleFromHorDir = dirVec.getAngleBetween(-Vector3::VEC_J);
-			float angle = (angleFromHorDir > rotAngle ? rotAngle : angleFromHorDir);
 			Vector3 targDir = (Vector3(targetPoint.x, initPos.y, targetPoint.z) - initPos).norm();
 
 			if(dirVec.getAngleBetween(targDir) < PI / 2)
@@ -63,11 +57,14 @@ namespace battleship{
 	void CruiseMissile::update(){
 		GameObject::update();
 		placeAt(pos + dirVec * speed);
+		float rotAngle = .1;
 
 		switch(flightStage){
 			case FlightStage::ASCENT:
+				pitch(rotAngle, Vector3(dirVec.x, 0, dirVec.z).norm());
+				break;
 			case FlightStage::DESCENT:
-				pitch(.1);
+				pitch(rotAngle, -Vector3::VEC_J);
 				break;
 			case FlightStage::CRUISE:
 				cruise();
diff --git a/cruiseMissile.h b/cruiseMissile.h
index 76eeec4..b7b84d9 100644
--- a/cruiseMissile.h
+++ b/cruiseMissile.h
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ namespace battleship{
 			FlightStage flightStage;
 			vb01::Vector3 targetPoint;
 
-			void pitch(float);
+			void pitch(float, vb01::Vector3);
 			void cruise();
 			void checkSurfaceCollision();
 	};