"Tim923" wrote in message
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[...]
So, I was curious whether it was just error in perception, or if we
really were close to the ground/water. Melbourne is near the ocean,
and there are hardly any tall buildings in the area. The approach was
a loop or circle over the ocean and bay to the runway.

Especially if you were not on final approach, then I assure you any
perception that you "were so close to the ocean [you] were going to hit it"
was incorrect. As Jim points out, minimum altitudes prior to commencement
of the final approach are on the order of a thousand feet above the ground
or more. For example, at KMLB depending on the particular approach being
used, minimum altitudes are 1600, 1700, or 2000 feet for landings to the
west (runways 27L and 27R).

I suspect that a combination of very clear weather and particular water
conditions (higher, wide-spaced waves) may have led you to believe you were
much closer to the ground than you actually were.

I cannot rule out 100% that the airplane in which you were riding nearly
crashed, but that's only because I wasn't there and have no access to any
specific records regarding the flight. Even without that information, the
likelihood that the situation was as you perceived it to be is exceedingly
small (to the point of irrelevance).

Pete