What happened
On November 11, 1998, a Cessna 152, registered D-EIHI, was engaged in a cross-country flight from Saarlouis, Germany, to Koblenz, Germany. The flight was expected to last approximately one hour. However, after two hours of flight, the pilot noted that they could no longer hear German-language radio transmissions.
As night began to fall, the pilot determined that an emergency landing was necessary. The aircraft eventually landed on a small road near Nods, France, after a total flight duration of 2 hours and 40 minutes. During the landing roll, the aircraft's right wing leading edge struck a road sign, resulting in damage to the structure.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the circumstances leading to the unplanned landing. The pilot, who held a German-issued license and had approximately 100 total flight hours, had been flying roughly 15 hours per year. At the time of the incident, weather conditions at the site were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and light winds.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a navigation error.
- The pilot's deviation from the intended route led to the aircraft being significantly off-course, resulting in the loss of contact with German-language radio services.
- The duration of the flight exceeded the initial three-hour fuel autonomy estimate, necessitating the emergency landing.
- The damage to the Cessna 152 was caused by contact with a roadside sign during the ground roll.