Forced landing with or against traffic?

[Petard]

Here's an old chestnut for general aviation pilots, engine failure, not much height, and the only area relatively clear of obstacles within glide distance is a divided road.

Do you try to land going against the traffic, as it appears these two just did near Quebec
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080126/plane_quebec_080126/20080126?hub=Canada
luckily both walked away from it, shaken and stirred no doubt

or with traffic (even at night) as suggested by this:
http://www.studentpilot.com/articles/aviation_articles/article.php?aviation_id=95

I think one thing both arguments are overlooking is the wind, which I would think is an even bigger priority. A landing with the traffic with >10 knot plus tail winds in a little Cessna is going to be awful tricky, in a case like that maybe it is better to go against the traffic. Given the history of this kindof event it looks like a pilot doing this is most likely going to be faced with drivers who are too startled to try and stay out of the way in any case.

Anyone out there with any experience with this; thoughts?

Post Script: looking at video again of crash near Quebec it looks like they might have been landing with the traffic

 

[Good2Golf]

Actually, as inviting as they seem, roads are fraught with bad things that make them not so attractive unless really in the lurch...power lines almost always associtaed with roads, bridges/overpasses, etc...  Never underestimate a nice field (going with the furrows, not across).

G2G

 

[SupersonicMax]

Actually, as inviting as they seem, roads are fraught with bad things that make them not so attractive unless really in the lurch...power lines almost always associtaed with roads, bridges/overpasses, etc...  Never underestimate a nice field (going with the furrows, not across).

G2G

I witnessed a little cessna trying to land on Hwy 40 just in front of Repentigny, QC during the summer of 2003.  It hit the powerlines just above an overpass.  The passenger died and the pilot was severely injured. 

My Transport Canada examiner for my PPL had to forced land once.  She did it on the Highway.  On the roll, her wing struck a sign on the side of the highway and crashed into the ditch.  She was grounded for several months...

Yup, the field is a far better option than the highway IMO.

Max

 

[aesop081]

  Never underestimate a nice field (going with the furrows, not across).

G2G

Well, for some of us, the ocean is the only option  ;D

 

[Timmy!]

Yup, the field is a far better option than the highway IMO.

401!!!  ;D

 

[Inch]

I think one thing both arguments are overlooking is the wind, which I would think is an even bigger priority. A landing with the traffic with >10 knot plus tail winds in a little Cessna is going to be awful tricky, in a case like that maybe it is better to go against the traffic. Given the history of this kindof event it looks like a pilot doing this is most likely going to be faced with drivers who are too startled to try and stay out of the way in any case.

Uh, wind has nothing to do with whether you land on the right side of the divided highway or the left side, think about it... In either case, if the highway is east-west and the wind is out of the west, you can land either side of the highway and still be into wind.

 

[observor 69]

Actually, as inviting as they seem, roads are fraught with bad things that make them not so attractive unless really in the lurch...power lines almost always associtaed with roads, bridges/overpasses, etc...  Never underestimate a nice field (going with the furrows, not across).

G2G

No names no pack drill...... CFB Summerside Flying Club, 1970ish, student pilot returning to base ran out of fuel and landed against those famous PEI potatoes rows. Pilot OK , plane.. not so much.

 

[Petard]

Uh, wind has nothing to do with whether you land on the right side of the divided highway or the left side, think about it... In either case, if the highway is east-west and the wind is out of the west, you can land either side of the highway and still be into wind.

True, if there's no obstacles on either side of the road, and it looks like there were in this Quebec incident. There's also the challenge of landing in snow with non retractable gear and or skis. A strong tailwind has a lot to do with being able to maintain good control, especially for a pilot of limited experience.
Certainly a field would be a better choice, but over a city or dense forest, the options become more limited. I would agree pavement should be the last resort in most situations, but sometimes it is the only one, just which way to do you set up for it.

 

[Inch]

True, if there's no obstacles on either side of the road, and it looks like there were in this Quebec incident. There's also the challenge of landing in snow with non retractable gear and or skis. A strong tailwind has a lot to do with being able to maintain good control, especially for a pilot of limited experience.
Certainly a field would be a better choice, but over a city or dense forest, the options become more limited. I would agree pavement should be the last resort in most situations, but sometimes it is the only one, just which way to do you set up for it.

In most planes, I wouldn't land gear up just because of snow. You risk striking a wing tip that is that much lower with the gear retracted and flipping yourself upside down. Not a big deal in a high wing plane like a Cessna, but try getting out of a low wing plane with a canopy while resting on it inverted. I'd take my chances with the gear in the snow.

You are correct, tailwinds on landing can be killer, especially landing on an unprepared surface since your ground speed will be much higher. However, which side of the highway you land on doesn't affect where the winds are from, you just turn around and head the other way if the winds are from the other direction. And for the record... I'd land with the traffic, especially in a Cessna that stalls at around 50-some knots (approx 95kph).

But I'm a fling wing dude, I take what ever I have below me when I lose engines. A good autorotation to a bad spot is better than a bad auto to a good spot.

 

[observor 69]

Friend of mine told of a plane passing over his car to do a highway landing. Beng aware of the aircraft he was able to avoid crashing into it.
Seems flying into traffic would reduce reaction time for the motorist.
That is if you are so unfortunate as to have such a bad day.