Probe after light aircraft runs out of fuel

A PILOT narrowly escaped serious injury after a light aircraft ran out of fuel during a flight organised by a parachute club last year.

Five parachutists on board the Cessna 206 Stationair had exited the aircraft on the pilot’s instructions after it had suffered a temporary, partial loss of power as it had climbed to 9,000 ft.

Although the engine recovered, it subsequently stopped fully a short time later as it made its final approach to land at Clonbullogue Airfield, Co Offaly, on March 15, 2009.