Fuel exhaustion leads to crash of Cessna 150 in Montbéliard

Casualties unknown • Montbéliard Courcelles, FR

A flight from Grenoble ended in a forced landing at Montbéliard Courcelles after the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion, resulting in a collision with trees.

What happened

On 20 June 2020, a Cessna 150 (registration F-BXNO) was performing a cross-country flight from Grenoble Le Versoud to Montbéliard Courcelles. The flight, operated by Aéroclub du Pays de Montbéliard, was a return leg of a club excursion involving the pilot and one passenger.

During the descent to 2,000 feet, the pilot began the downwind leg for runway 26. At this time, a parachute dropping operation was underway at the aerodrome. As the aircraft entered the downwind leg, the engine power suddenly decreased. Despite the pilot's attempts to increase power via the throttle, the engine failed. The pilot announced over the radio that the aircraft had run out of fuel and attempted an emergency landing on the reciprocal runway 08.

While attempting to reach the runway threshold, the aircraft struck the tops of trees at the edge of the aerodrome. The impact caused the aircraft to fall vertically into the grass within the aerodrome grounds. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and landing gear, but there were no fatalities.

Probable cause

The engine shut down due to fuel exhaustion because the pilot's pre-flight fuel calculations were inaccurate regarding usable fuel, a situation exacerbated by inoperative fuel gauges and the lack of a low-fuel warning system.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2020-06-20 REIMS CESSNA F 150 M accident near Montbéliard Courcelles, FR?

A flight from Grenoble ended in a forced landing at Montbéliard Courcelles after the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion, resulting in a collision with trees.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2020-06-20 involved a REIMS CESSNA F 150 M, registration F-BXNO, at Montbéliard Courcelles, FR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The engine shut down due to fuel exhaustion because the pilot's pre-flight fuel calculations were inaccurate regarding usable fuel, a situation exacerbated by inoperative fuel gauges and the lack of a low-fuel warning system.

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