What happened
On the night of 20 September 2002, a Cessna T210L, registered ZS-NRS, was conducting a private flight from Maputo, Mozambique, to Durban International Airport. While the pilot was established on the ILS final approach for Runway 24, the aircraft's engine failed.
In the ensuing emergency, the pilot attempted a forced landing in an open field located in a suburban area, approximately 1.75 nm short of the runway. During the descent, the right-hand wing of the aircraft struck a tree, which caused the plane to swing to the right. The aircraft eventually came to a stop on a heading of 010°M, roughly 70m from the initial point of impact. Despite the substantial damage sustained by the aircraft, there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the fuel systems of the Cessna T210L to determine the source of the power loss. An inspection of the fuel tanks revealed that both tanks were completely empty at the time of the accident. Crucially, the investigation found no evidence of any leaks occurring during flight or following the impact, even though the right-hand wing tank sustained minor damage during the collision with the tree.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion.
- There was no evidence of any in-flight fuel leakage.
- It is concluded that the aircraft departed Maputo with an insufficient fuel supply to complete the flight to Durban International.