What happened
On Sunday, June 14, 1998, at 19:30, a Fischer Celebrity (registration F-PPAP) was performing circuit training at the Cambrai Niergnies airfield. The pilot, accompanied by one passenger, was conducting a flight following the recent purchase of the amateur-built aircraft. During the second circuit, while flying on the downwind leg at approximately 600 feet, the engine ceased operation.
Faced with the engine failure, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing in a nearby field rather than attempting to reach the unpaved runway 26. Upon impact with the ground, the aircraft inverted. The landing resulted in heavy damage to the airframe, though no fatalities were reported among the two occupants.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the engine failure and the fuel state of the aircraft. Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel tank was completely empty, and no traces of fuel were found on the ground beneath the crash site.
Investigators also examined the pilot's pre-flight procedures. It was determined that the pilot had relied solely on the cockpit fuel gauge to verify the remaining fuel quantity. The investigation established that the pilot had not performed a manual check of the fuel level using a dipstick, such as the method used on a Piper J3, to confirm the gauge's accuracy.