Plane that crashed in Offaly was short of fuel, report finds

A small plane crashed killing two men in Co Offaly after the engine cut out because there was inadequate fuel in the tanks, air accident investigators have found.

Tipperary native and flight instructor, Niall Doherty (31) from Roscrea, and trainee pilot Damien Deegan(31), from Crinkle near Birr, Co Offaly, were killed in the crash on November 11th, 2012.

Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) investigators found the engine stalled as the men took off because of fuel starvation.

It said further evidence for this was a lack of fuel at the crash site and the fact that the engine was stopped at impact.

“The Investigation found that the engine power loss was caused by fuel starvation. No technical defect that might have contributed to the accident was found,” the report stated.

Other factors identified by the AAIU were a failure to maintain adequate airspeed after the engine quit and inadequate fuel management.

According to the AAIU report findings, the plane “had landed with inadequate fuel reserves on a number of occasions during the previous month”.

There were five hours and 10 minutes of recorded training flights on the day of the crash on November 11th last year, with little break in between, on top of the instructor’s trip down from Dublin.

The report found “the aircraft conducted two training details and commenced a third detail without further refuelling.” It was during this third flight the plane lost power.

“At that time the estimated fuel quantity was 9.6 litres which was less than the 13.25 litres unusable fuel quantity published by the manufacturer,” the report found.

The investigation has resulted in eight safety recommendations being issued. Six of the eight recommendations related to fuel.

Among the recommendations it advised that: “The Ormand Flying Club should publish further guidance regarding its fuel policies and procedures in its club rules.”

The AAIU also recommended "the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) should consider a requirement that general aviation aircraft empty weight weighing reports state whether or not the weight of unusable fuel and oil is included."

The plane’s occupants both had a passion for flying and were members of the Ormand Flying Club in Birr. Mr Doherty had flown commercially for Irish airlines in the past.

When not flying, he helped out with the family farm and worked at his family’s hardware store in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

Mr Deegan worked at Tesco in Birr and was the vice president of Crinkle Handball Club. The popular young man was involved in a variety of local fundraising activities.

Both men were given an honorary fly past by the Ormand Flying Club when they were laid to rest in Dunkerrin and Birr Co Offaly in November of 2012.