# Accident 20000716040769A: Piper PA24250, Immokalee, FL, July 16, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 16, 2000, 10:47 local time
- Place: Immokalee, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.4093° N, 81.4191° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4093&lon=-81.4191&mi=10
- Aircraft: N980AC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N980AC-2002-03-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24250
- Reported engine: LYC IO540C1B5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 669 total, 6 in this make and model, 221 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA00LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA218) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000716040769A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) AT DEPARTURE, THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR 1.8 HOURS SINCE FUELING. THE PILOT RATED STUDENT (STUDENT) HAD NOT RECEIVED SYSTEMS GROUND INSTRUCTION BUT PREFLIGHTED THE AIRPLANE. FUEL WAS NOTED IN THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK; HE INTENDED ON INQUIRING ABOUT THE QUANTITY WITH THE CFI, BUT DIDN'T. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK AND REMAINED ON THAT POSITION UNTIL THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS AND STATED SHE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR; THE STUDENT STATED HE COULD NOT RECALL IF SHE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER BUT DURING THE FLIGHT, 'HE DID NOT TOUCH THE FUEL SELECTOR AT ALL.' THE CFI STATED THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AT ABOUT 100 KNOTS; THE STUDENT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE, 'CAME STRAIGHT DOWN FOR THE LAST FEW FEET.' POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK; NO FUEL WAS NOTED IN THAT TANK. THE REMAINING FUEL TANKS WERE NEARLY FULL. NO FUEL WAS IN THE FUEL LINE AT THE INLET OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP; THE FUEL SELECTOR AND AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP CHECKED SATISFACTORY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA00LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA218), Jul 16, 2000: Piper PA-24-250 (N980AC), Immokalee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate supervision of the pilot rated student by the CFI for her failure to note that the fuel selector was positioned to an empty fuel tank. Also, failure of the CFI to attain the proper…

## Other reports on N980AC (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19990908035529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990908035529A), Sep 8, 1999: Piper PA24250 (N980AC), Naples, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) See attached sheets (there were no attached sheets to insert for narrative. (.4) the pilot completed a before landing check and lowered the landing gear.…
- [Incident 19970705023139I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970705023139I), Jul 5, 1997: Piper PA24250 (N980AC), Naples, FL, Minor damage. Select gear down no greens transit only. Unable lockdown. Tried hold handle down. Gear collapsed landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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