What happened
On November 5, 2005, a Reims Aviation F 152, registration F-GHLU, departed Lognes for Brive carrying a pilot and one passenger. During the flight, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions. Approximately 20 nautical miles southeast of Limoges, the pilot determined that the weather was no longer suitable for visual flight rules and decided to divert.
At 12:15, the pilot contacted Limoges air traffic control to request assistance, noting that the aircraft had approximately 40 minutes of fuel remaining. Although the controller suggested Brive might be an option due to better visibility, the pilot encountered fog while attempting to descend through the cloud layer. After being unable to find a suitable alternative airfield with VFR conditions, the pilot considered returning to Limoges. However, while flying at 2,600 feet, the pilot experienced engine surges. At 12:53, the pilot notified the controller of an intention to land in a field. The aircraft sustained minor damage to the right main landing gear during the landing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the fuel management and the pilot's decision-making process regarding weather and diversion. Investigators examined the aircraft's fuel tanks, which were found to contain no usable fuel at the time of the landing. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's pre-flight preparations, including the weather information obtained from Météo France prior to departure. It was noted that while the pilot had checked conditions for the destination, he had not identified suitable alternate aerodromes in the event of deteriorating weather.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was fuel exhaustion caused by a lack of adequate fuel reserves for the diverted route.
- The pilot's flight preparation was insufficient, as he failed to plan for alternative landing sites.
- The pilot demonstrated persistence in attempting the flight despite the developing weather conditions.
- The pilot relied on a single weather forecast for the destination without accounting for the possibility of needing to divert to other airfields.