I Learned About Flying From That

David Flitterman

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A routine IFR flight experienced a sudden engine flameout over the Mediterranean, forcing the pilot to execute a successful emergency ditching of the single-engine aircraft.
Despite a successful ditching, the passengers faced immediate danger from cold water, a failed life raft, and lost life jackets as the aircraft slowly sank.
Their timely rescue was critically facilitated by a "chain of correct actions, altruism, and fortunate coincidences," including a Spanair pilot spotting them and relaying GPS coordinates, and a private helicopter providing a functional life raft before official rescue services arrived.
The incident underscored the vital importance of diligent pre-flight checks for all survival equipment, especially life rafts and jackets, when flying over water.

See a mistake? Contact us.

It is a common aviation axiom that every accident is always a result of a succession of errors, rather than due to one single error. Well, I have learned that a successful rescue follows the same rules: It requires a chain of correct actions, altruism and fortunate coincidences.

I departed Madrid (Cuatro Vientos LECU) on the 30th of April at 1615 local time, on a routine IFR flight plan to Palma de Mallorca (LEPA). Estimated flight time was only one hour 20 minutes in our well-equipped PA-46T Piper Malibu JetProp. Planned flight level was FL 250 and all fuel tanks were filled to maximum capacity. Weather conditions were CAVOK throughout the route. My co-owner, David, and I had flown this airplane from the United States six years ago across the freezing Arctic, so this short jaunt with a super-reliable Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 engine was no more than a yawn.