Mayday over the Pacific Ocean

Facing 30' waves and 30mph winds, ditching in the Pacific ocean hundreds of miles from land.
Was transporting a Cirrus SR22 with auxiliary fuel tanks installed in the cabin. When the auxiliary tanking systems fails, 4hrs before ditching and deploying the Cirrus CAPS.
Thanks to the US Coast Guard, Holland America, SFO AIRINC and the countless aircraft relaying information, the ditching went successful.

[Tomrryaniv]

Hi Lue, I was flying an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 from OGG to OAK when I heard your calls on Guard. I was able to relay some of your info. Later I was able to pinpoint your location by reviewing the Coast Guard video which displayed the lat/long and realized we were within 40nm of your location while flying eastbound. The last transmission I heard from you was that you had fuel on you from the pitch down when the chute deployed. For three long hours my FO and I did not know your fate but finally OAK Center relayed to us that you were picked up alive by the cruise ship. We were thankful!
Thanks for posting the video.

Tom Ryan
Alaska Airlines Captain
ANC

[Mike-]

Amazing shot of caps deployment caught on video from inside the aircraft.

[pieterzandhuis]

wow Lue, never found this video before, i was looking for the Coastguard video to show to people i told this seastory to (who obviously did not believe me 😛) you probably dont remember me directly, but i was the 2nd officer who welcomed you onboard, and asked you if you had a military background as we where all in awe of your great level of cool. I can still remember where and when we recieved the first notion of your predicament, a coastguard call while still close to 300 miles of hawaii "a posible ditching scenario, please stamdby on ch 16"" . Btw if you ever wondered what the top speed of a Cirrus turned sea anchor to a parachute is, its close to 2 and a half knots 🙂

[treylem]

So awesome to see the BRS, or CAPS chute deployed in real emeegency. Of course I'm sorry it had to be used, im so glad he had it, with fixed landing gear, and survived unharmed. Great vid, story well told too. Thank you

[Limbwalker]

Cruise ship had booze and food. Good choice....I agree....Great Job Lue...!!!! And your still here with us....Thanks to CAPS...!!! Its a great system to have on board...!! And it saved your life....!!

[bsto]

Beautiful footage from USCG! Great real life footage and all safe. Good deal.

[randyporter]

Great video ! First, thank god you are ok. Who (other than possibly the insurance carrier) cares about the aircraft. It can be replaced, you can't (cliché, but true). Second, thank Cirrus for the life saving technology. Third thank you for sharing. As a pilot for thirty years, I love everything aviation, especially videos. I feel I gain something from every one, even the short clips, I learn something. So, thanks for your candid exposé, of your trip. Stay safe and blue sky's always !

[Matt-mosl]

Well done, Lue! Had to be hard saying goodbye to that airplane but hey, YOU made it and that's all that matters. I woulda been shttin' kittens. I had a chance to ride right seat in a Commander 840 being ferried from Maine to the UK 25 years ago but I chickened out and somebody else went. The thought of going over the pond in a turbo prop full of ferry tanks full of JET-A and NO chute was just a little too daring for an unexperienced private pilot. I hindsight, I wish I did it.

[THEVATICANTS]

Why I only fly Cirrus. Great footage from that C-130! Glad you swam away ok from this! Obviously people suggesting to make a stick landing in that water have no clue what they're talking about. Even with a sea plane you wouldn't have been able to land in those waves-let alone with a fixed gear aircraft- you would have been done on the spot.

[ratsoful]

You know Lue's a "badass" when he doesn't even lose his sunglasses throughout this whole ordeal!!!

[hdt]

Couldn’t ask for a better parachute promotion.

[RyanbATC]

Great video! Sorry to hear about the loss of the aircraft. I'm pretty sure I worked you in Duluth a few times as a controller. Glad you're safe!

[xwildcard]

It's hilarious every time I see some sierra hotel wannabe on /r/flying talking about this incident "..he shoulda just stuck it like normal!" Yeah, sure, Mav. You enjoy your dead stick into 20'+ swells. Ever hit water at that speed? May as well hit a tree going 60mph. The stigma surrounding Cirrus is just the old boys club refusing to get with the times. 'Back in our

[Roadglide]

Cruise ship had booze and food. Good choice.

[treylem]

NICE ! Should be standard equipment for all cruise LSA. I know some company's offer it as an option. Brilliant idea overall.

[dannylee]

That is such a good story😁 just what I

[geoffreywoodyear]

Somehow with the parachute opening and slowing down the plane I don't think you would be "pulled back into your seat". The aircraft is not accelerating. However a nice added feature would be inflatable balloons to keep the aircraft afloat to enhance survivability if no help was immediate.

[mallyjoyplaneflighttv]

great video mate, liked and subbed take care keep safe

[actionnews]

5:10 "The parachute pulls him BACK into his seat? Uh..what?

[jackjones]

Great video! One in a million event(?)