Accident
A single-engine airplane was departing Budel-Kempen Airport on a flight to Cannes-Mandelieu with four passengers and one pilot on board. During the initial climb, after selecting the landing gear up, the pilot attempted to retract the flaps. At that moment, the engine failed.
The aircraft lost altitude and crash landed in an open field, coming to rest on its belly approximately 1,500 meters from the departure runway end. All five occupants evacuated the aircraft without injury. The airplane sustained damage beyond economical repair.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's inadvertent placement of the fuel selector to the CUT OFF position while trying to retract the flaps. This action stopped the engine, leading to a loss of thrust and a forced landing.