Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s inadequate fuel management that resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was practicing a touch-and-go landing following a cross-country flight when the accident occurred. During the takeoff portion of the touch and go, at an altitude of 100 ft above the runway, the engine stopped producing power. The student pilot performed a forced landing and the left wing collided with a tree and separated which resulted in substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane found the right fuel tank was empty and the left fuel tank was about ½ full of fuel. The student pilot reported the right fuel tank was selected when the engine lost power. It is likely that the engine lost power when it was starved of fuel.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 7, 2022, about 1415 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161 airplane, N8283V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. The solo student pilot returned from a cross-country flight and planned on practicing touch-and-go landings. After the first touch-and-go landing to runway 17, when the airplane was about 100 ft above ground level, the airplane’s engine stopped producing power. The student pilot performed a forced landing straight ahead. During the landing, the airplane’s left wing contacted a tree and separated resulting in substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site and examined the airplane. He found that the fuel selector was selected to the left fuel tank, which was about half full of fuel. The right fuel tank was empty. The student pilot reported to the FAA inspector that the fuel selector was on the right tank when the engine stopped producing power. The student pilot stated the selector was moved to the left tank position when the airplane was being secured after the accident.