What happened
During a flight over the Atlantic Ocean, an aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power. The crew encountered much stronger headwinds than had been originally anticipated during their route planning. In an attempt to extend the remaining fuel supply, the crew shut down one of the engines roughly thirty minutes prior to the emergency. Ultimately, the aircraft was ditched into rough waters.
The incident resulted in one fatality and one survivor. While the crew members were aware of deteriorating weather conditions along their path, the pilot's desire to reach the destination influenced the flight progression.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to the pilot's decision-making and flight planning. The primary cause of the engine failure was fuel exhaustion.
Key findings included:
- Inaccurate calculations regarding fuel consumption
- Poor preflight preparation by the pilot in command
- Encountering unfavorable wind conditions and rain
- Errors in judgment by the pilot in command
- The influence of pilot anxiety regarding the flight duration
- The difficulty of the landing due to rough sea conditions