What happened
On December 9, 2005, a Cessna 152, registration OO-ACS, departed from airfield Leopoldsburg-Beverlo in Belgium for an overland flight. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger. Although the aircraft was fueled for approximately four hours of flight, no flight plan had been filed with air traffic services. During the flight, the pilot operated the transponder with the standard VFR code 7-000 but did not maintain contact with air traffic control.
Radar reconstruction by Belgocontrol revealed that the aircraft flew northwest, crossing the Antwerp CTR without authorization. After climbing to 2,000 feet, the aircraft began a descent. Near the Belgian-Dutch border, the altitude dropped rapidly from 1,500 feet to 600 feet before the aircraft disappeared from radar. The wreckage was discovered the following day in a field near Clinge, Netherlands. The impact caused the total destruction of the aircraft, and both occupants were killed.
The investigation
Investigators from the Dutch Safety Board and the Cessna Aircraft Company examined the wreckage and found no evidence of mechanical or engine failure. The propeller showed signs of rotating at low RPM during impact, and the fuel and ignition systems were found to be in good working order. Autopsies of the occupants revealed no medical conditions that would have impaired the pilot's ability to fly.
Meteorological analysis showed that while conditions at departure were favorable, a significant fog bank was moving into the Zeeland region. By approximately 15:30 local time, visibility near Clinge had dropped to between 200 and 1,000 meters, with cloud bases reaching the ground. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's instrumentation was not certified for flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was deteriorating visibility as the aircraft entered a dense fog bank.
- The pilot likely became disoriented and lost control of the aircraft after encountering conditions below VFR minimums.
- The pilot may have failed to recognize the worsening weather in a timely manner, possibly due to a lack of experience in such conditions.
- The aircraft was not equipped for instrument flight, making it impossible to navigate safely once visual references were lost.
- There was no evidence of an intentional emergency landing, as the flaps remained in the retracted position and more suitable landing sites were available.