Piper PA18 N70699 accident near Palm City, Florida

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

NTSB analysis

The private pilot and a passenger were returning from a local flight and were cleared by the tower controller to enter a right downwind leg. The pilot started a descent and switched to the right fuel tank. Shortly after receiving landing clearance, the engine lost all power. The pilot informed the controller that the airplane could not reach the runway and that he was going to land the airplane in a field. During the landing, the airplane impacted a chain-link fence resulting in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage.

An on-scene examination revealed that the fuel selector was in the off position. The left and right wing fuel tanks were drained during recovery; the right wing tank was full and the left wing tank was empty. The fuel filter bowl contained no residual fuel.

Although the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of carburetor icing at descent power, it is most likely that the fuel selector was not positioned correctly by the pilot which resulted in fuel starvation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN19LA157 for the full record.