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:

The Florida Gulf near Key West is deep enough to sink an aircraft, contrary to misinformation suggesting it is uniformly shallow (3-5 feet).
Pilots can generally land on an open and clear taxiway without it being an emergency, but landing on a NOTAM-closed runway is typically a regulatory violation and should only be considered in an emergency due to potential unknown hazards.
The publication provides preliminary accident briefs to encourage readers to analyze "what went wrong" for themselves, as definitive probable cause findings are the responsibility of the NTSB.