Engine failure and ditching of cargo aircraft near Aldeburgh

No fatalities • Aldeburgh, United Kingdom • Flight

A cargo flight traveling from Germany to England resulted in a sea ditching near the Suffolk coast after both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion.

What happened

A cargo flight operating from Braunschweig, Germany, to Oxford, England, experienced a critical power loss while approximately 30 nm from the English coastline. During the flight at FL100, the right engine began operating roughly. Upon inspecting the fuel gauges, the pilot noted that the readings were within the red sector. Shortly after this observation, the right engine ceased functioning, followed by the failure of the left engine.

The aircraft entered a glide toward the Suffolk coast, eventually ditching in the sea roughly 9.5 nm southeast of Aldeburgh. The pilot successfully exited the aircraft before it sank beneath the surface. A Royal Air Force Search and Rescue helicopter located and rescued the pilot from the water approximately 18 minutes after the incident. The pilot was transported to a hospital to be treated for a fractured vertebra.

Findings

An investigation into the incident concluded that the aircraft ran out of fuel during the flight. The primary cause was determined to be the presence of insufficient fuel on board the aircraft at the commencement of the journey.

Probable cause

The flight ended in a ditching because the aircraft was dispatched with an inadequate amount of fuel for the planned route.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2006-09-19 Cessna 303 Crusader accident near Aldeburgh, United Kingdom?

A cargo flight traveling from Germany to England resulted in a sea ditching near the Suffolk coast after both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion.

Were there any fatalities in the 2006-09-19 Cessna 303 Crusader accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2006-09-19 involved a Cessna 303 Crusader, registration D-IAFC, operated by Aerowest Flugcenter, at Aldeburgh, United Kingdom.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The flight ended in a ditching because the aircraft was dispatched with an inadequate amount of fuel for the planned route.

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