No one has mentioned the fact that the higher you are the more time you have to
pick an emergency landing location. At 3000 AGL my Warrior has 5.5 NM of best
glide distance. At 8000 AGL I have 14.5 NM of best glide distance. That's a
choice between 95 square NM and 660 square NM in which to find a place to land.

Demonick