Piper PA-24-260 N79RG accident near Robbinsville, New Jersey

Probable cause

The pilot’s mismanagement of fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine began to sputter. He performed a 180° turn back to the runway, bounced due to excessive speed and attempted a go-around, during which the engine briefly regained power before all power was lost. During a forced landing to a road adjacent to the airport, the left wing impacted powerlines, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. A post-accident examination revealed that the auxiliary fuel tanks were full, both main fuel tanks were empty and the fuel selector was positioned at the “Right Main” position.

In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector, the student pilot/owner said that there were no mechanical deficiencies with his airplane and that he had only operated the airplane with the fuel selector on ‘Left’ or ‘Right’ Main fuel tank. Additionally, he had not received the required endorsements for solo operation of the airplane.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA21LA241 for the full record.