Kingfish wrote:
On Jan 16, 11:20 am, Tech Support wrote:
Witness also said gear was down. If true, was bad decision.


I know what usually happens if a GA plane ditches with the gear down,
and only assume the same would happen to a big transport.

I'm not sure. The "flat plate area" of the tires is pretty small,
relative to the total kinetic energy of a twin-engine airliner. Any
effect the mains have will apply will pale in comparison to the engines
hitting a half-second later. The nosewheel will hit *after* the mains
are significantly in the water; again, I don't think they'll contribute
much more.

*If* the plane had the gear down, the simple fact is, it worked and no
one was seriously hurt. The pilot's batting a thousand as far as I'm
concerned....

Ron Wanttaja