Preparing To Ditch

All kinds of advice is available from the FAA, manufacturers and other sources on how to ditch an airplane. In fact, the how is fairly easy—it can be summed up as “land in the water.” The checklist excerpt at right, for a Cessna Model 208B Grand Caravan, discusses the major items. (We added the highlighting noting Cessna hasn’t test-ditched a Caravan.)

Editorial Staff

Friday, October 31, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

While the act of ditching an airplane is simply "landing in the water," effective preparation is critical for survival.
Key preparation steps include removing loose items like eyeglasses, unplugging headsets, and opening doors before impact to ensure they can be used for egress.
Passengers should prioritize remaining calm, staying securely seated until the aircraft stops, establishing a reference point, and then exiting the aircraft.

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Preparation can be critical, however. Here are some additional tips, focused on passengers, adapted from the U.S. Department of the Interior (yes!) and its Office of Aircraft Services (DOI/OAS):