Ditching on a lake

Private pilot · Who you talk to: Approach control

What this case adds

• Drag it in to avoid misjudging the height over smooth water.
• In a low-wing airplane use no more than intermediate flaps; keep a retractable gear up unless the POH/AFM says otherwise.
• Touch down at minimum speed in a normal landing attitude.

Critical fails

• Letting airspeed drift more than 10 knots from best glide.
• Stalling, spinning or flying into terrain while maneuvering low, for example a turn back to the runway without the altitude for it.
• Stretching the glide over obstacles short of the field instead of planning an approach with margin.
• Losing control of the airplane while working the checklist: positive control has priority over configuration and checklist tasks.

Sources

1. FAA-H-8083-3C, Airplane Flying Handbook, Chapter 18: Emergency Procedures https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook/19_afh_ch18.pdf

Making Synapses is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the FAA. The FAA documents are named and linked only to describe what this mold practices; always follow your airplane's POH/AFM and your instructor.