plane crash into water or land?

Question

which is worse?

Answer 1

SPEED KILLS........ Also Size in this question..

It depends on the Speed in which you crash and dirrection in which the Plane falls...

Example if a place crashed nose 1st into the earth at over 100 to 150 mph the tail will end up near the nose Making this the worst Crash...

If that same size place did a nose dive at any speed into Water the Water catch the plane like a glove but most likely rip something or everthing off and pop the windows out... If its deep enough.

Now Take that same plane and crash it on land.. gliding in ...it depends on speed and the surface where it lands... People survive this cash...

And again that same crash gliding across the water. Speed and waves... Most likely will stop the plane and it will start ripping apart as it tumbles over the water. Or sink as its ripped apart.
Like skipping a rock across the water...The smooth water VS waves... This is the worst on the water...

Answer 2

First off if I was forced to land (ditch) on water or land I would choose land any day. If you are in a fixed gear airplane (the gear does not retract into the fuselage) then aircraft will most likely flip over or drive its nose into the water. This is not good because the forces involved on the occupants as well as the fact that you will be very disoriented trying to find your way out of the plane before you drown. Also, the windshield is sometimes blown into the passenger compartment from the water impact too. Then in a water ditching you have wait to help to get out of the water, most likely, and you have to deal with hypothermia.
On land you may have to worry about some trees and other obstacles, but if you are flying properly and planned well you will have plenty of time to find a suitable landing site in the event of a problem or an engine failure. I fly in central Michigan and most of the pilots I know that fly single engine aircraft will not fly directly across Lake Michigan, they would rather risk having to land in a heavily wooded area than the water.

Answer 3

That varies as to the design of the plane. A fixed landing gear plane will flip over on contact with the water. It MIGHT do better on land. Some planes are clean designs like lear jets these will skip over the water until they stop. A lear doing this on land would probably disintegrate and explode. The big draw back of water landings is getting out before the plane sinks and then staying afloat until rescued. On land if you survive and can get out of the plane you just go to the nearest phone or wait for rescue. Both have their draw backs so it's really a matter of picking your poison.

Answer 4

Not walking away is worse.
There are so many factors effecting this question. Is it a complete crash or a controlled / forced landing? What type of a/c?
Personally I would prefer to make a forced landing on dry land if possible. Escaping from a sinking a/c poses added risk to people. Most people don't realize how difficult this can actually be. There is a reason why all Navies train their aircrews in dunker tanks.
On land there is a much higher risk of fire.
As a pilot you need to make the call when or if it ever happens. You are the person best suited to answer your own question when faced with it for real. I hope you never have to find out for real.

Answer 5

While land and water are equal in the impact force implemented upon a plane, there is a greater chance of survival within water. This is due to the nose section of the fuselage (assuming you nose-dive) taking the brunt of the impact. The pilots are unfortunate, but the impact at that point creates an aerodynamic hole in the water into which the rest of the plane can follow without the impact pressure.
Having said that, however, the increasing water pressure as the plane sinks would probably crush anyone who stayed inside.

Answer 6

i would think crashing in to land is worse because it is not flat. Crashing in to water gives a better chance because the plane can skip across the water like when you throw a rock in a pond. But if you crashing at a steep angle, all you can do is put your head between your knees and kiss your @$$ goodbye!

Answer 7

The are both are hard to survive in, on land their is the chance of hitting something or blowing up and other things but if u hit water it is so solid the plain could cut in half and it sinks and if u know any thing that sinks as a fores and if u are in it, it will take u under and u wont be able to live

Answer 8

They are both about the same impact wise because hitting water at high speed and hitting land at the same speed are both like hitting brick walls. However, I would prefer a water crash because if I were to survive, I would be able to swim to safety or at least just sit there bobbing on my flotation device!

Answer 9

I think water is worse. I don't think either would do less damage than the other. If you survive the crash in water you still have to deal with surviving the water and help will take longer than on land.

Answer 10

All else being equal, water is more forgiving and would cause less damage, but then again you don't drown in earth. Less likely that structures or other people would be hurt over water also. Unless you were so unlucky that you landed atop the only cruise ship within miles.