Les Matheson wrote:
Remember the AC-130H that ditched off Kenya in 1993?

Existing procedure was to ditch, until after the accident investigation it
was found (duh!!) that the AC-130 with all the holes in the fuselage didn't
act like a trash hauler C-130 when it hit the water.

Emergency procedures for all AC-130 models was changed to eliminate
ditching, except if no other means of egress was possible. Bailout became
preferred method of emergency egress in the air.


All C-130s now have bailout as preferred over ditching, IIRC. The
AC-130 and HC-130 that ditched did so in less than ideal circumstances,
(loss of all power at night in the HC-130; structural and wing fire,
inability to maintain aircraft control and altitude in the AC)
in a manner under which little control was possible. In aircraft
with little or no control available, you don't typically ditch,
you crash.

Mike