What happened
On the night of April 10, 1997, a Cessna C-414, registration HB-LPN, was conducting a VFR flight from Basel to Zurich. The crew, consisting of two pilots, had previously flown from Colmar to Basel to refuel because the aircraft lacked sufficient fuel for its original destination. During the approach to Zurich, while performing holding patterns near Bassersdorf, the aircraft experienced engine fluctuations and misfires.
As the aircraft entered the final approach for runway 28, it was flying at an unusually low altitude. Witnesses observed the aircraft banking and eventually colliding with the eastern facade of an apartment building in Kloten. The impact caused a massive fire in the building's attic. The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury among the crew, along with significant damage to the aircraft and the residential structure.
The investigation
SUST examined the flight logs, radar data, and radio communications, as well as the wreckage of the CessNA C-414. The investigation established that the pilot on the left seat was a relatively new professional pilot without a type rating for this specific model, while the pilot on the right seat lacked the necessary instructor rating to supervise the flight.
Investigators reconstructed the fuel consumption and found that the aircraft was operating with significantly less fuel than the minimum required by the flight manual. The investigation also analyzed the fuel selector valve, finding it had been set to the "crossfeed" position at the time of the crash.
Findings
- The primary cause of the dual engine failure was the improper operation of the fuel selector valves.
- The crew attempted to compensate for an engine issue by switching to crossfeed, which caused the left tank to deplete rapidly as it supplied both engines.
- The flight preparation was highly unprofessional, as the crew failed to calculate necessary fuel reserves or plan for an alternate airport.
- The aircraft departed Basel with approximately 116 liters of fuel, which was well below the required minimum of 151.4 liters.
- The crew failed to file a required ATC flight plan for a night VFR operation.
- The pilot on the left seat was flying the aircraft without the proper type rating for the Cessna C-414.