What happened
On December 21, 2008, a pilot departed Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole for a planned navigation flight, intending to visit L’Aigle and Mortagne before returning to the departure point. Shortly after passing L’Aigle, the pilot noted decreasing visibility and decided to turn back. During the return leg, the pilot deviated from the planned route and attempted to use VOR navigation, but was unable to establish a signal from the L’A and Rambouillet stations.
As daylight faded, the pilot lost visual landmarks and became disoriented, eventually mistaking a major roadway for the Seine valley. After failing to contact Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole, the pilot contacted Pontoise tower at 17:12. Because the original destination was closed for the night, the controller directed the pilot to Pontoise. A pilot of a nearby DA 20 intercepted the Robin DR 400-140 B to provide visual guidance to the airfield. During the approach, the DA 20 pilot observed a low fuel warning light on the aircraft's dashboard. The F-GIKG landed safely at Pontoise at 17:33, having reached a state of near-fuel exhaustion.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's flight preparation, navigation techniques, and aircraft equipment. It was determined that the pilot had relied on outdated aeronautical charts from 2007 and had not verified the validity of the weather information used prior to the flight. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's fuel consumption rates and the functionality of the onboard radio and transponder equipment.
Findings
- The pilot's flight preparation and navigation monitoring were insufficient, specifically regarding the use of updated charts and the tracking of waypoints.
- The pilot lacked the necessary knowledge to operate the aircraft's radio systems, including an inability to activate a newly installed Mode S transponder.
- There was a significant misunderstanding of fuel consumption; the pilot estimated a consumption of 25 liters per hour, whereas the manufacturer's manual specifies approximately 30 liters per hour.
- The pilot's fuel calculations were inaccurate, leading to a much shorter flight endurance than anticipated.
- The pilot had no prior experience in night flying.