I really beleive that I saw all of the prior post, but this thread is now a bit disorienting---
My comment is early on i heard the new people saying " why didn't he go to TEB or back to LGA or, then he was
told
by ATC?
because in a glide configuration a pilot looks ahead toward a stationary spot near the selected landing area---the glide line--- if anything is beyond that spot you wont get there and if there's obstructions in the flight path- you may well end up in the St. John the divine in no time!!!---that's perhaps why---
media
he and the crew did the best he could ---it's academic to second guess an out of certifiaction scenario such as this incident and unlike at sea where the captain ALWAYS goes down with the ship so it' in their best interest no to crash
as an aside L/Dmax on a jet =Vx = V max glide but not necesarily the best speed in a dual---due to excess GS or ROD
and don't drop the gear ---especially for a ditching
CJ -I agree