SAFA Skysailor Magazine

54 SKY SAILOR March-April-May | AUTUMN 2026 Controlled collisions into terrain – Water and Trees by Iain Clarke – SAFA Safety Manager Lately, we’ve seen an uptick in ‘water landings’, along with the regular occurrences of tree or vegetation ‘landings’. I think it’s time to change the terminology though. These are not events that you should be planning as a normal part of your flight. They are to be actively avoided as they pose a real hazard to your well-being, and those of your passengers if you’re engaged in a passenger-carrying flight. Let’s start calling them what they are: a controlled collision into terrain. How do these occur? Here’s some common factors: • Unfamiliarity with the site • Not obtaining a site briefing • Not judging conditions correctly • Not monitoring changing conditions • Not changing flight plans in accordance with the conditions • Flying too close to terrain • Ignoring or choosing to fly past a safer landing option