What happened
On August 9, 2000, a Cessna 340 was performing the final leg of a ferry flight from Zweibrücken to Egelsbach. While operating under visual flight rules, the pilot contacted air traffic control near Egelsbach to report unverified technical issues and subsequently declared an intention to perform an emergency landing at the Griesheim landing field.
Witnesses observed the aircraft approaching the airfield from the south at a very low altitude and slow airspeed. The aircraft was seen oscillating heavily and losing altitude in stages. As the pilot attempted to maneuver onto runway 25, the aircraft entered a left-hand turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft banked steeply, causing the left wingtip tank to strike the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to cartwheel and immediately ignite, resulting in a post-crash fire that destroyed the cabin and the left wing. All three occupants—the pilot and two passengers—were killed in the accident.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the engine performance and the fuel system configuration. Investigators analyzed radar data, which confirmed the flight path and the erratic movement of the aircraft. Physical examination of the wreckage revealed that the left propeller was not in the feathered position and was effectively windmilling, while the right propeller showed signs of pitch. The rudder trim was found deflected heavily to the left, suggesting the aircraft had been trimmed to compensate for the loss of power from the left engine.
Technical analysis of the fuel system examined the various tanks, including the tip tanks, auxiliary tanks, and the wing locker tank. Although calculations indicated that sufficient fuel should have been remaining on board, the investigation found that this fuel was not available to the engines during the final approach.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine malfunctions was insufficient fuel supply to the engines.
- The aircraft was flying at a speed below the minimum required velocity during the turn to the runway.
- The pilot attempted a difficult maneuvering turn with a non-feathered, dead left engine, which created significant asymmetric drag.
- While the exact reason for the fuel unavailability could not be determined, the investigation established that the remaining fuel was not being delivered to the engines at the time of the accident.