What happened
On October 6, 2011, a Cessna F 182 Q was performing a VFR flight from Stuttgart, Germany, to Miroslawice, Poland, and back. During the return leg, the crew encountered stronger headwinds than anticipated, which significantly increased the flight duration and decreased the ground speed. While near the Dinkelsbühl VOR, the crew decided to divert to SchwäSBisch Hall, declaring an emergency due to running low on fuel.
Upon approaching Schwäbisch Hall, the pilot requested a landing on the opposite direction of the active runway. The aircraft approached runway 10, but due to the fuel shortage and a momentary engine irregularity, the pilot applied heavy braking and approached with an increasing tailwind. The aircraft touched down approximately 100 meters east of the runway midpoint. The high touchdown speed caused the aircraft to bounce several times. The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before it overran the end of the runway, where it collided with approach lighting equipment. There were no fatalities, but the aircraft sustained heavy damage and the approach lights were destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the flight planning, the aircraft's weight and balance, and the fuel management. The investigation found that the flight planning for the return leg had used incorrect wind assumptions. Furthermore, the investigators reviewed the pilot's qualifications and the aircraft's loading state. The investigation also looked into the fueling process and the possibility of an incorrect fuel load.
Findings
- The aircraft was overloaded by approximately 79.5 kg at departure from Stuttgart, and the center of gravity was outside the allowable limits.
- The pilot in command lacked the necessary night flying qualification in his license.
- The pilot had not received the required type training for the aircraft model as stipulated in the charter agreement.
- The pilot relied on the flight planning and pre-flight checks performed by the safety pilot rather than conducting his own.
- The fuel exhaustion was likely caused by either an incorrect fueling technique that left the tanks partially empty or a higher fuel consumption than estimated in the flight plan.
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to land on the opposite runway direction while experiencing fuel starvation, leading to a high-speed touchdown and a subsequent runway excursion.