The Myths of 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. Not to worry; its not just you.

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.

As 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...

Key Takeaways:

• Emergency water landings (ditchings) in general aviation are highly survivable, with accident data showing a 90% overall survival rate, effectively debunking common pilot fears and myths about immediate sinking or low survivability.
• Many widely held beliefs regarding ditching, such as specific aircraft configurations being inherently safer or the need for exceptional skill, are not supported by accident data from intentional water landings.
• While ditching is often successful, carrying basic survival equipment like Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) and, for extended overwater flights, rafts, significantly improves post-ditching survival chances and aids in rescue.
• When faced with an emergency landing, choosing water over rough terrain like trees or rocks is generally the more survivable option, despite the associated uneasiness.

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