![]() Myth 2: Ditching is Safer in a Low Wing Than a High Wing Airplane Since ferry missions are really beyond the ken of everyday general aviation operations, throwing these operations out of the equation pushes the survival rate to an encouraging 90 percent. Two-thirds of the 22 occurred during the winter in cold or temperate climates and 12 percent are what we call blue water ditchings in the open Atlantic or Pacific, done by ferry pilots on extraordinary missions in light singles or twins or fish spotters operating far from shore. This becomes less a ditching issue than a survival equipment consideration. In four of the ditchings that involved fatalities, all of the occupants got out of the airplane alive but some may have succumbed to drowning or exposure later. Sometimes survivors escape unscathed, sometimes they get away with minor or serious injuries. If the occupants got out but then drowned or succumbed to exposure, that goes into the fatals column. And in at least six of those ditchings, there were one or more survivors.īy the way, were defining surviving as egressing the airplane and being rescued or swimming to shore. ![]() Of the 179 ditchings reviewed, 22 (12 percent) involved fatalities. If you believe this, youve been led seriously astray. The 10 myths of ditchings, in no particular order: These records led to some interesting discoveries, which should take some of the terror out of overwater flying. With this in mind, the NTSBs database revealed 179 bonafide ditchings during the eight years we examined. In reviewing the accident data, we ignored accidents which appeared to be water crashes, high speed impacts, stall/spins or spirals, focusing only on intentional water landings in which the aircraft touches down under control. In any case, we think the accident record is accurate enough to draw some broad conclusions. On the other hand, theres no reason to believe that an unreported ditching wasnt successful either. Its quite possible that some ditchings go unreported since lost aircraft arent always recovered, although theres no reason to think that a large number are unreported. That said, heres a disclaimer: NTSB data is occasionally incomplete or inaccurate. Although survival rates vary by time of year and water body type, the overall general aviation ditching survival rate is 90 percent and if you ignore blue water ferry operations, fatalities are actually quite rare. ![]() The truth is, overall, ditching is one of the most survivable emergency procedures any pilot can perform, according to a review of ditching accidents in 1985 through 1. The prospect of going into the water in an airplane terrifies most pilots, chiefly because few prepare for it and, in general, instructors dont know enough about the relevant risks to make well-informed judgments about overwater flying.Īs a result, certain myths and half-truths about ditching seem to persist, handed down from one pilot to the next who read something or knows someone who knew someone who vanished without a trace in Lake Michigan on a fine sunny day after a botched ditching. If you fly much over the water – even over wide bays and rivers – youve had to quell the uneasiness that arises when the engine goes into auto rough mode the instant youre beyond gliding range of shore.
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