Ditching Depth

We never fly over water in our single engine Saratoga. However, on a flight from Key West to Fort Lauderdale several years ago, Flight Service advised me that everyone flies over the Florida Gulf because it is never more than three to five feet deep. So we did fly direct. Is he correct? If so, why did Amy Labodas plane sink ("A Different Ditching," March 2009)?

Editorial Staff

Monday, March 23, 2009 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Misinformation regarding the Florida Gulf's uniform shallowness is corrected; while parts are shallow, it's deep enough to sink an aircraft.
Landing on an open, clear taxiway is generally permissible for crosswind management, but landing on a closed runway is typically reserved for emergencies due to unknown hazards and regulatory violations.
The article includes several corrections to previously published aviation data, such as climb rates and aircraft range figures.
Pilots share practical safety advice, like preserving night vision by closing one eye, and operational insights, such as experiences with varying international ATC standards.