Reply #7: They do that once in a while. [View All]

[TreasonousBastard]

On the approach, they shut the engine down, then reverse it to slow down as they slide into the "pocket." Hitting the bulkheads is what actually stops the thing. It's not like steering a sportscar-- the pilot "takes aim" more than anything else.

With some really heavy winds, and nasty currents, the ferry might not make it properly into the landing, and by the time the pilot realizes it-- it's too late.

Pilots are, of course, trained to take all of that sort of thing into account and it's rare that such an accident is entirely unavoidable.