Buster1

Thanks HRM! I appreciate it. As for the gators, not really sure. We used to fly the F-16 with a pistol on our vest survival pack. Maybe you need one of those!? Or better yet, glide to somewhere more firm and less watery if you can!?

Here's an in depth article I posted a while back about building survival packs. With my F-16 background, I have some unique ideas...I think. Pics and videos in there too! Thanks for looking. http://engineout.weebly.com/articles/how-to-build-your-emergency-response-plan-for-an-aircraft-accident

My latest musings, if you'd like a little light reading. Short article too this time on the combustion triangle and cockpit procedures. Thanks http://engineout.weebly.com/articles/simplifying-your-airplane-engine-failure-procedures

Thanks!

Here is my latest article. Hope you'll give it a look. It's about three critical tactics anytime you are on the runway. A heavy TOLD (takeoff and landing data) discussion as well. Thanks! http://engineout.weebly.com/articles/three-key-considerations-during-an-aircraft-emergency-on-the-runway

Thanks for the support Toto. If you haven't had a chance to check out my book, please do. I included some research on this subject. From old military T-34s (the tandem Bonanza basically) as well as some modern GA accidents, and research of decelerations in GA aircraft. The stats point to the facts that if you have the gear down during an off airport landing and you land on a soft surface (including water), the gear are going to "snag" and you will flip over or come to a very abrupt stop. If you're still unconvinced, and think that you would like your landing gear to "shear off" thus absorbing some of the energy, let me ask you this: You're driving down the road at highway speeds. Suddenly you go to brake and the brake pedal goes to the floor! You've lost your brakes in your trusty car! What is your plan for getting the thing stopped? Assume no parking or E-brake for the sake of argument. Would you rather let the car coast to a stop? Or will you steer toward a light pole, hoping that it slows you down some by absorbing energy? I'm guessing most of you would prefer the former, and try to avoid hitting light poles. But why is that? Why do you want to avoid light poles to slow you down? Logically, you know that hitting a light pole in a car might bring you to a dead stop (emphasis on dead). Right? Some light poles might allow you to slow a little, shearing off and then you'd continue along slightly slower. But some light poles might not. So intuitively, you avoid light poles and let the car coast to a stop, thus "stretching out" the decelerative forces over TIME and DISTANCE. It's the same thing in a plane (with typically less soft stuff inside, crumple zones, and airbags). The DATA points to stretching out the crash over TIME and DISTANCE (less instantaneous G) to optimize survival. Many other sources and authors have discussed this as well, and I include a bunch of it in my book. With a little data. Seriously, I hope you check it out, and think about some of this stuff realistically as the OP has. It's a smart way to survival. Thanks! ~Buster

Thanks for the support guys, and for checking out my articles!

Don't make the mistake that I did. A new article and an interesting (I hope) story! http://engineout.weebly.com/articles/aviation-emergency-frequency

Thanks for the support guys! And for reading my drivel. I do think however that a survival pack, even with a few items in it, will really come in handy should the day arise...

You've just had a forced landing. Now what? What's your plan? I've just published an article on this, and how to build a GA survival pack for your cockpit. I hope you have a look! Nate http://engineout.weebly.com/articles/how-to-build-your-emergency-response-plan-for-an-aircraft-accident

Is old tech still worth teaching? A brief article that discusses this while looking at the "old school" E6-B.Thanks for looking.http://engineout.weebly.com/articles/dust-off-your-e6-b-and-save-a-dinosaur

Thanks for mentioning this book. I've heard the story somewhere, but would love to read about the details. Thanks for sharing!

Hey guys, Here's a free article about developing safety procedures in your aircraft. Have a look. Thanks! http://engineout.weebly.com/articles/how-to-develop-safety-procedures-in-an-aircraft

So sad, and maybe avoidable?

Thanks guys. Yep, jaylw is correct. You'll lose about 500 feet, clean, in a gliding 180. It's another great question DanB has in this hypothetical situation. You'll never make it to Airport A given the conditions and winds.