Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s selection of an improper fuel tank selector position, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the instructor’s inadequate oversight.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The instructional flight was returning to the departure airport for landing when the student pilot changed the fuel tank selector position in preparation for landing. While flying the approach, the flight instructor told the student pilot to add engine power; however, the engine exhibited a total loss of engine power. The flight instructor took over the flight controls, and the airplane impacted a vacant area in a residential neighborhood. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector valve did not intersect the valve body port positions. With the fuel selector valve between port positions, fuel cannot flow downstream to the engine. There were no other preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 15, 2024, at 1450 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N6571J, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Hot Springs, Arkansas. The flight instructor sustained serious injuries, and the student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor and student pilot had completed flight maneuvers as part of the instructional flight before returning from the practice area to the departure airport for a visual approach and landing. The flight instructor said that the student pilot made a fuel tank selection change while they performed the descent checklist. The student pilot was flying the approach when the flight instructor told the student pilot to add engine power, but the engine exhibited a total loss of engine power. The flight instructor took over the flight controls, and the airplane impacted a vacant area in a residential neighborhood. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector valve did not intersect any of the valve body ports. With the fuel selector valve between port positions, fuel was unable to flow downstream to the engine. There were no other preacccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.