Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-140 near Clyde, OH — 2023-05-06

Final reportERA23LA224
Sign in to save
Date
2023-05-06
Location
Clyde, OH, USA
Airport
S24
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-140
Registration
N678FL
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a forced landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing a touch-and-go landing at an airport near his home base. During the initial climb after an uneventful landing, the engine lost all power. He was unable to return to the airport, so he performed a forced landing in a nearby farm field. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the airframe was substantially damaged. The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing was severed during the forced landing and the right wing fuel tank was compromised; however, 7 gallons of fuel were recovered from it. The left wing was intact and undamaged. About 1 quart of fuel was recovered from the left tank, and the cockpit fuel selector handle was found in the left tank position. Subsequent examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure. Fuel records indicated that the airplane was operated about 4 hours since the previous refueling. The pilot would later state that he did not know why the engine lost power but that it may have been the result of a failure to switch fuel tanks. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilots inadequate fuel management resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have switched fuel tanks before initial climb.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

Related mishaps