Factual Information
On 19 June 2007, at approximately 11:15 local time, a Cessna 337-G Skymaster, registration EC-HMC, made an emergency landing near kilometre point 10 of the road connecting Moixent and Navalón, in the municipality of Moixent, Valencia. The aircraft was occupied by one pilot and two passengers. One passenger died due to the fire that broke out after impact. The aircraft was destroyed.
The aircraft had arrived the previous day at Almansa Aerodrome (Albacete) on a private flight with the same occupants. The flight was planned with the knowledge that the aircraft had a mechanical issue with the retraction of a landing gear door, which prevented gear retraction; consequently, the landing gear remained extended during the flight, as it had on the previous flight. Before departure, the aircraft was refuelled to maximum capacity, adding 360 litres to reach the total capacity of 567 litres, and the fuel tanks were drained. The flight had been arranged by the owner to demonstrate the aircraft for sale.
The aircraft took off at approximately 8:45 local time in slightly hot weather with no wind and scattered clouds that did not impede flight under visual conditions.
Sequence of Events
About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot observed fluctuations in the fuel flow indication of the rear engine (engine 2). Anticipating a fuel supply problem, he switched on the auxiliary electric fuel pump for that engine, first in the LOW position and then in HIGH, to ensure maximum flow. Initially, the fuel flow indication rose, but shortly thereafter the pilot noticed a loss of power in the rear engine and a decrease in its revolutions. He did not feather the propeller, which continued windmilling. The aircraft, with the landing gear extended, began to lose altitude and speed despite the front engine still operating.
During the subsequent emergency landing, the aircraft did not reach the field the pilot had intended and struck pine trees on the crest of a slope leading to that field. Moments after impact, the aircraft caught fire, and one of the passengers, reached by the flames, died.
Probable Cause
The investigation estimated the most probable cause of the accident to be the incorrect application of emergency procedures for an engine failure in flight, resulting from the erroneous interpretation of the fuel flow indication. The report noted that although the pilot met regulatory requirements, in practice he demonstrated limited handling knowledge of this aircraft type.