Ditching Masterclass
jeff64,
There is a classic case of a well executed ditching, with 3 of the 4 engines running and plenty of fuel in the tanks. The aircraft was a Northwest Orient Douglas DC-7CF, with Wright Cyclone radial piston engines, and it happened on 22 OCT 62, in the Gulf of Alaska.
The flight was a military charter from Washington to Anchorage, with 102 POB (7 crew/95 PAX) mostly service personnel with wives and children. Three hours into the flight, the #2 engine lost power, quickly followed by the propellor overspeeding. The overspeed could not be controlled, resulting in massive drag, noise and vibration. With no suitable airfield close by, ditching became inevitable.
The flight engineer was able to monitor the engine oil level, but the crew knew that when the oil ran out, the engine would overheat, resulting in a massive fire. The Captain descended to 500 feet over the sea, continuing to fly towards Anchorage at that level. The weather was benign, with conditions of good visibility, light winds and little or no swell. A 'Mayday' call had been made and rescue services were on their way to the likely ditching area. The oil lasted for 50 minutes, giving the cabin crew time to brief and organise the passengers, with plenty of fit young servicemen to assist.
When, inevitably, the oil supply ran out, the Captain ditched at a speed of 96 knots. All 102 made it safely into the liferafts without significant injury. The DC7 stayed afloat for 24 minutes and everybody was rescued in due course and in good health. Many years ago, I heard a tape by the Captain, describing the whole event. He came across as calm, assured and utterly professional, and described the beaming smile of a young child who greeted him as he, last of all, boarded his liferaft to take command of his new 'ships.'