In this paper, properties of the surface plasma wave (SPW) in the modified Otto configuration of a multilayer system have been investigated. We derived a new approximation of the reflectivity formula from the Fresnel formulas. Furthermore, a series of approximate expressions for the damping rate of SPW, the resonant angle, the optimum air gap thickness of the system, and the halfwidth of resonance have been proposed. Theoretical calculations are in good agreement with numerical simulations. This study leads to the conclusion that the damping rate of SPW and the halfwidth of resonance for a silver metal used in the modified Otto configuration are much smaller than those of other metals used in the same configuration. Modulation of the reflectivity depends more sensitively on the air gap thickness as the dielectric constant of the prism increases. In addition, modulation of the reflectivity is more sensitive to the air gap thickness for the gold metal than for other metals used in this configuration.