A single-engine high wing is about the best circumstance for this kind of situation to occur... having it at this size (12 passenger) means it also has some more advanced equipment that, with the person in the operator's seat being the ATC tower handler's eyes-and-hands, will almost fly itself. Having clear skies and calm conditions handles the rest.
The way this is narrated and shown, it seems suspiciously more like an impromptu exercise, but FlightAware shows N333LD with this flight track:
333LD is registered as a Cessna 208 Caravan Amphibian, which means it can be fitted (and it's shown in reg) with floats... but in the 'exclusive vid', it's floatless. The relevance here, is that in order to have a respectable performance envelope for it's total 12,000lb flight weight WITH floats, it has to have a considerable amount of power AND lift... and it does- it's a turboprop with constant speed propeller.
Landing it with no prior experience is an exemplary feat... had it been a low-wing, smaller plane with substantially less power and instrumentation, I doubt it would have turned out this well.
If anyone's wondering 'why' it would be easier than a low wing, there's two major factors- first is ground-effect, the second is sight pattern- visibility.
As an aircraft approaches the ground, air pressure BENEATH the wings becomes 'trapped' between the ground and wing, increasing lift, which makes the aircraft fly different... and thus, more difficult to gently set down. A high wing aircraft doesn't present as much ground-effect response just before those wheels get in-reach, so the transition is not as aggressive.
When in a low wing, you have a very good view of everything from horizon UP, in a low wing, you have best visibility from horizon DOWN. When landing, the perspective of your distance to ground is the feedback you need in order to make that flight-to-touchdown transition.
There's a dozen things that WOULD have changed this. Something as simple as A 15mph breeze 15 degrees off the approach angle (from left or right) would have likely changed this significantly.
I think the guy should get an honorary 'solo' cert for this one. Put him through the classes and award him a license. Aviate, Navigate, Communicate!!!
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