Cessna T303 Crusader, D-IAFC, 19 September 2006

• From: Air Accidents Investigation Branch
• Published: 10 December 2014

• Category: Commercial - fixed wing
• Report type: Bulletin - Field investigation
• Date of occurrence: 19 September 2006
• Aircraft type: Cessna T303 Crusader
• Location: North Sea, approximately 9.5 nm south-east of Aldeburgh, Suffolk
• Registration: D-IAFC

Cessna T303 Crusader, D-IAFC

Summary:

Whilst on a cargo flight from Braunschweig, Germany, to Oxford, England, when approximately 30 nm from the English coast, the right engine started to run roughly. Upon checking the fuel gauges, the pilot observed that they were indicating in the ‘red sector’. The right engine subsequently stopped, shortly followed by the left engine. The aircraft then glided from FL 100 towards the Suffolk coast and ditched in the sea approximately 9.5 nm southeast of Aldeburgh. The pilot was able to abandon the aircraft, which sank quickly. He was rescued from the sea some 18 minutes later by a Royal Air Force Search and Rescue helicopter and taken to hospital, where he was found to have suffered a fractured a vertebra. The investigation determined that the aircraft had run out of fuel, due to insufficient fuel for the intended journey being on-board the aircraft at the start of the flight.

Download report:

Cessna T303, Crusader, D-IAFC 07-07.pdf (405.66 kb)

Published 10 December 2014