What happened
On July 30, 2008, a DIAMOND DA-20, registration EC-IIS, was performing a solo instructional flight. The pilot had departed from Reus Airport, initially flying to Girona Airport for a local flight before intending to return to Reus. Following a successful arrival in Girona and a subsequent local flight, the pilot departed for the return leg to Reus.
Approximately 42 minutes into the flight, while over the Vilafranca del Penedés area, the engine began to sputter. The pilot observed that the fuel pressure warning light had illuminated. Realizing the engine could no longer maintain altitude and fearing insufficient fuel to reach the destination, the pilot declared an emergency with Barcelona control and searched for an emergency landing site. The pilot selected a path through a vineyard. Prior to touchdown, the pilot shut down the engine, turned off the magnetos, closed the fuel tanks, and disconnected the master switch. During the landing maneuver, the aircraft swerved sharply, causing damage to the surrounding vines.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine failure and the fuel state of the aircraft. The pilot reported that a pre-flight inspection had confirmed the aircraft was at maximum fuel capacity. However, the investigation established that the total flight time since the last refueling was 3 hours and 57 minutes. Post-accident inspections revealed that the fuel tanks were empty. The investigation also noted that the operator had instructed the pilot to refuel the aircraft at the destination airport (Girona) during the mission.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage, including a broken nose gear, a broken right main gear, and damage to the left wing leading edge.
- The accident resulted from deficient flight planning regarding fuel management.