Yeah... as long as it's in flight to begin with.
Having it happen right after takeoff while you are climbing and banking is about the worst time to have it happen, and the least likely you can recover. The higher you are before the engine failure, the better your chances.
A plane, flat and level flight, will start dropping if you bank (turn) it. When you do it at low speed(due to engine loss) and climbing as well.... you are screwed. The pilot knew. I would say that it is amazing he managed to ditch it in the water and avoided hitting anyone on the way down. That's my opinion, anyway.
It seems like he was trying for a "Miracle on the Hudson." As it was, he managed to miss plowing into ten-story apartment buildings, and he put her into the softest acreage he could reach, a warm, shallow river. Kudos at least for not plowing into an apartment building.
Wow, thanks.