Accident to the Cessna F177 RG registered F-GAAC on 24/02/2021 at Veuzain-sur-Loire

During the return leg of a pleasure flight, while the pilot was flying at low altitude and reduced speed along the north bank of the river Loire, the engine of the Cessna C177 lost power for a reason that the investigation was unable to determine. The low height and reduced speed of the aeroplane at the time of the engine failure limited the pilot’s choice of flight paths as well as his resources. After a quick and unsuccessful troubleshooting procedure, the pilot managed to adopt a roughly straight path to carry out a forced landing in a field.

During the landing run, the change in the type of soil caused the nose gear to collapse. The residual power at that time was sufficient to cause an injury to the pilot who had not fastened his shoulder harness.