a4fly - a/c decending to nearest coastline which was 60 degrees to the wave direction and swell - every inch closer to the beach was probably more important than trying to alter heading with failed engines and stalling 2 feet above the surface. 3 people knew they were going to get wet and cold...fully expect that the upwind wing clipped the top of a crest which would have caused the a/c aircraft to rotate starboard, probably digging its nose in, and depending on what speed initial wing contact with wave depends on whether it cartwheels to end up inverted or water-loops which is the same as a ground loop and stays upright with massive deceleration.... AAIB will give the eventual outcome of course...
More than probable the other two were injured and alive after ditching, but water temperature just too cold to last very long at all at the moment - less than 20 mins in most cases - add injuries - terrible, terrible shame.
Sounds like Rodney was as cool as a cucumber and did everything in his power to make the best outcome but it ended up costig his own life - top respect to him and the other guy who sounds like he would of been playing his part also.
