Incident
On February 1, 2004, at 10:40 UTC, an F22C aircraft registered as I-GEAZ experienced an engine failure shortly after departing from the Area 51 airstrip in Mestrino, Italy. The pilot intended to fly to Thiene Airport for refueling, an estimated 8-minute flight. Approximately 12 liters of fuel were measured during pre-flight checks. However, after prolonged ground operations including engine warm-up, run-up, waiting for a passenger, taxiing, and holding due to ultralight traffic, the fuel supply became insufficient. The aircraft climbed only a few meters before the engine stopped. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by pumping the throttle, achieving a brief restart, but ultimately executed a forced landing with the gear retracted. The landing occurred on soft, flat ground, and the aircraft slid about 30–40 meters before stopping. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The right flap sustained minor damage, and the propeller was substantially damaged.
Background
The flight was a transfer from Area 51 airstrip to Thiene Airport for refueling. The pilot, a 50-year-old male holding a private pilot license with a valid medical certificate, was the sole operator of the aircraft. The aircraft was a single-engine, low-wing monoplane powered by a Lycoming 360 A1A engine. Weather conditions were good with slight cloud cover, no wind, and a ground temperature of about 5°C.
Investigation
The Italian aviation safety authority (ANSV) analyzed the event. The pilot had estimated fuel using a graduated rod, but the measurement may have been imprecise due to the aircraft's ground attitude. The fuel usable in climb was not adequately considered, given the low fuel level and nose-high attitude at takeoff. As ground operations extended, the pilot did not reassess fuel consumption and cancel the flight despite insufficient endurance.
Probable Cause
The flight was operated with insufficient fuel due to superficial flight planning and inadequate ground operations.