Posted for Walter Atkinson <walter@advancedpilot.com>:

 There are two different events here.
 
 1) He made a common miscalculation over glassy water.  If you are not  a
seaplane pilot and have not had this training, this could be  impossible to
appreciate.
 
 2) After the aircraft sank, he ensured the survival of all aboard  through
some seriously brave and smart actions.
 
 It would be very easy for all aboard to be dead--after surviving the
 "landing" unharmed--from drowning and hypthermia.
 
 Walter