On the JFK crash, my uncle used to say, "there are old pilots and bold pilots but there are no old bold pilots."
Obviously, every crash involving injury or loss of life is tragic.
Question: If the fixed wing lost power over water such as the Hudson River, is it appropriate to lower the landing gears? I would think if a water ditch would be necessary, you would go without wheels down.
Anyone who knows the terrain around the George Washington Bridge would immediately conclude that a ground landing when an engine goes at 500 - 1000 feet is impossible.