What happened
On Sunday, August 1, 1999, at 17:20, a Robin DR 400-180, registered F-GLKG, was conducting a flight from Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole toward the Belle-Île aerodrome. As the pilot was established on final approach for runway 24, the engine ceased operation. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful.
In an effort to reach a nearby field, the pilot attempted a forced landing; however, the aircraft was at too low an altitude to reach the intended clearing. Consequently, the pilot opted to land the aircraft into a thick hedge. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft. There were two persons on board, and the pilot survived the impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine failure and the subsequent flight path. Upon examining the wreckage, investigators inspected the fuel system components. The examination revealed that the selected left fuel tank was empty. In contrast, the right fuel tank was found to be full, and the central tank still contained usable fuel.