Piper PA-28-180 N6571J accident near Hot Springs, Arkansas

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.

NTSB analysis

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.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA189 for the full record.