What happened
On 9 March 2006, a Cessna 150L, registration G-BBTZ, departed Cumbernauld for Carlisle as a private flight. The pilot, carrying one passenger, intended to fly under Visual Flight Rules. During the flight, the aircraft encountered rapidly deteriorating weather near the Talla VOR. To avoid flying beneath a lowering cloud base, the pilot turned east, which caused the aircraft to deviate significantly from its planned route.
As the pilot became increasingly concerned about the fading light and the remaining fuel, they realized they were lost. After contacting the Distress and Diversion cell, the pilot identified a large area of clear sand near Holy Island, Northumberland. Due to anxiety regarding fuel levels, the pilot elected to land the aircraft immediately on Goswick Sands at 1825 hrs. A Search and Rescue helicopter located the aircraft and safely extracted the crew and passenger. Following the landing, a coastguard vessel assisted in moving the aircraft to Holy Island to avoid the incoming tide.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's navigation, the meteorological conditions, and the aircraft's fuel state. While the pilot used the aircraft's VOR receiver occasionally, it was not used as a primary navigation aid during the flight. The investigation also reviewed the fuel levels recorded after the incident. Although the pilot believed fuel was critically low, a subsequent inspection by the flying school's Chief Flying Instructor revealed that the tanks contained 18 litres of fuel, which was more than the 70 litres the pilot had estimated at departure.
Findings
- The pilot became lost due to a deviation from the intended route to avoid deteriorating weather.
- The pilot's decision to land on the sand was driven by concerns over low fuel and diminishing light.
- The pilot was unaware that the aircraft possessed enough fuel to reach the alternative airfields suggested by the rescue crew.
- Meteorological data showed an approaching occluded front was bringing rain and lowering cloud bases, making the intended route difficult to maintain under VFR.