What happened
A replacement Britten-Norman Islander, registration G-BDNP, departed Jersey Airport for Guernsey under a Special VFR flight plan. The flight was using a substitute aircraft because the original plane, G-BESO, had returned to the airport following an engine issue. During the approach to Guernsey, while being vectored near the island of Herm, the starboard propeller began to hunt due to fluctuating engine power. Although the engine remained functional, the pilot requested a more direct approach to the airport to avoid further delays.
While attempting to stabilize the starboard engine by adjusting mixture controls and activating auxiliary fuel pumps, the port engine suddenly lost power. As the aircraft yawed, the starboard engine briefly regained power before failing as well. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot selected a landing site in nearby fields, configured the aircraft for landing, and shut off the fuel mixture to prevent sudden power surges. The aircraft struck a stone wall, crossed a road, and eventually came to a stop in a guest house driveway.
There were 9 survivors in total, consisting of the pilot and eight passengers. The pilot sustained severe leg lacerations, head injuries, and broken fingers, while the passengers suffered only minor injuries. No fire occurred during the impact.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause was fuel starvation, as the engines exhausted the usable fuel from the tip tanks while significant fuel remained in the main tanks. Contributing factors included inadequate operator procedures, insufficient checklist quality, and a poorly positioned fuel selector panel that was difficult for the pilot to monitor effectively.