What happened
On April 10, 2010, a Cessna F 172G departed from the Ampfing-Waldkraiburg airfield for a local sightseeing flight. The pilot was accompanied by his son. Following a go-around maneuver on runway 27, the engine began to sputter and lost power during the initial climb phase, approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes into the flight.
The pilot attempted to maneuver the aircraft, banking left for approximately 30 to 50 meters, before landing on a nearby meadow. After rolling for 94 meters, the aircraft struck trees and vegetation along the banks of the Isen river. The aircraft came to rest in the river in an inverted position, where it was destroyed. The pilot and his passenger sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's fuel status and the sequence of events leading to the engine failure. It was established that the aircraft had not been refueled since November 21, 2009. At that time, the fuel level was estimated to be approximately 105 liters of automotive gasoline. Since that date, the aircraft had completed several flights, including a 1-hour and 37-minute flight on April 6, 2010.
Upon inspection of the aircraft following the accident, investigators found that the fuel tanks contained a significant amount of water but no remaining fuel. The engine's throttle was found at full power, and the ignition and mixture controls had been set to the 'off' and 'lean' positions by emergency responders.
Findings
- The engine lost power during the initial climb following a go-around.
- Fuel exhaustion was the primary cause, as the tanks were found to be empty of gasoline and contained only water.
- The aircraft had been operated with a declining fuel supply, as the owner had declined a request to refuel the aircraft prior to the flight due to the unavailability of automotive gasoline at the airfield.