What happened
On the morning of November 5, 2013, a pilot operating a Robin DR 400-140B, registration F-GXPP, departed Toussus-le-Noble for a flight intended to include a refueling stop at Orléans. The pilot had previously flown to Toussus-le-Noble the day before but had stayed overnight due to deteriorating weather conditions.
During the flight on November 5, the pilot attempted to contact Orléans for refueling but was unsuccessful. While cruising at FL100, the pilot mistakenly tuned into the Poitiers Approach frequency instead of Bourges. Upon establishing contact, the pilot declared a critical fuel shortage and expressed the intention to divert to Bourges. However, because the Bourges AFIS service was not yet active and lighting could not be provided, the pilot requested access to the Avord military airfield. After coordination with Air Force authorities to activate the airfield's lighting, the pilot successfully landed at Avord at approximately 06:45, shutting down the engine shortly after arrival.
Later that afternoon, after a partial refuel, the pilot departed Avord for Bourges to complete refueling. Despite being advised by the Bourges AFIS agent to file a VFR night flight plan due to the late hour, the pilot departed at 16:45 under marginal weather conditions. The pilot eventually returned to Toussus-le-Noble at night, where they were notified that the required VFR route had not been followed.
The investigation
The BEA examined the pilot's flight preparation, noting that the pilot had performed only a brief review of meteorological information and had not filed a flight plan. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's reliance on electronic charts stored on a smartphone rather than physical aeronautical charts for the specific region. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the pilot's decision-making process, specifically regarding the pressure to adhere to a pre-booked aircraft schedule and personal commitments.
Findings
- The primary cause of the emergency landing was the critically low fuel quantity remaining in the aircraft.
- The pilot's decision-making was influenced by a strong desire to complete the planned flight, a low perception of risk, and an overconfidence in their ability to manage difficult conditions.
- Inadequate flight preparation, driven by personal and professional time constraints, led to the pilot proceeding without necessary safety margins.
- The pilot's reliance on digital tools and a lack of familiarity with local radio frequencies contributed to the communication error during the diversion.