Off Airport Landing-What is your strategy?

[Hank]

  On 4/20/2016 at 8:25 PM, xrs135 said:

I remember reading somewhere that ditching in the water resulted in a greater than 85% survival rate! I'll take those odds, especially flying over the Sierra's... lakes are often my #1 choice.

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I just wish my Mooney was good for more than a single water landing . . . now that I live along a 44,000 acre lake . . .  :-)  But I've not noticed any seaplanes.

[bonal]

Flying from the southern end of the coastal mountains with millions of acres of grape vineyards close to home always looking for an open field. Vineyards look real nice from altitude but they will rip you to pieces. The northern Sacramento valley has lots of rice fields they are very shallow but have levies that will spoil the best laid plan. Flying to the sierras and to Vegas offer very little good choices once you leave that big flat Central Valley. Always looking for tell tale wind indicators always thinking about the nearest runway. Lots of crop dusting in the valley and they operate out of dirt strips that you can usually spot. I think country roads would be good but you really need to figure out pole lines and how they are laid out. As an electric distribution engineer it helps because I know what to look for. I try to commit to an off field location as I fly along updating as I go. In the event of an engine failure you need to pick your spot soon and once you do stick to,you choice and make it work. Landing on water near shore on a lake doesn't spook me I think I would come in a bit fast gear and flaps up and get it on the step and just keep the nose up and just wait for it to turn from an airplane to a boat. As we fly it's always on my mind. I also like to give myself at least 5000agl if possible

[triple8s]

I am based on an island airport, yeah it's just a river but if I lost power on departure from 26 water is all I've got. I carry 2 boat flotation cushions and the plan is to get my cushion between me and the panel and hit the water with the door open. If I have to make an off airport landing the cushion is going between me and the panel. Most serious injuries I've read are head trauma so that's were I am putting he cushion  since I'll have it in my hand. I am far from an expert but I seriously doubt any Mooney is going to float for more than a couple of minutes so I don't plan on lingering. And top priority is don't stall the aircraft fly it till it won't fly anymore. 1st choice is an airport, second a vacant road, then a field or water, buildings, trees, rocks mountains are last on my list, but ultimately we don't get the choice we take what we are dealt.

 

 

Edited April 22, 2016 by triple8s

[DrRobb]

Survive... Land in the best spot available and fly the plane under control as far into the crash as possible. Everything else is too many variables to plan for.

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