What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft N7099R, a Piper PA-28 was on a VFR flight with pilot and one passenger onboard from tucson to montgomery field (myf). When passing north of Gillespie Field (see), the pilot experienced power loss and landed on prospect ave, a crowded urban street to the north of Gillespie Field. The aircraft struck a vehicle and other construction zone signs and cones, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and landing gear. No injuries were sustained by aircraft occupants or persons on the ground. There was no usable fuel in the right tank and approximately 6 gallons in the left. On scene the fuel selector was observed on the left tank.
The pilot stated that he changed tanks every 30 minutes, and that the final change was from the right tank to the left tank somewhere over the mountains coming into san diego from the east. He states that the fuel selector remained on the left tank throughout the event and that he confirmed it was positively in the detent after experiencing engine trouble.
An inspection of the engine and fuel system and a run-up were performed. The inspection found no abnormal discrepancies in the fuel or engine system. It was noted that during the run-ups that if the fuel selector valve was activated to the off position, the engine would run for approximately 1 minute and 39 seconds. Once the engine began to quit with air in the fuel lines, selecting a good tank would not keep the engine running.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT N7099R, A PIPER PA-28 WAS ON A VFR FLIGHT WITH PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER ONBOARD FROM TUCSON TO MONTGOMERY FIELD (MYF). WHEN PASSING NORTH OF GILLESPIE FIELD (SEE), THE PILOT EXPERIENCED POWER LOSS AND LANDED ON PROSPECT AVE, A CROWDED URBAN STREET TO THE NORTH OF GILLESPIE FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A VEHICLE AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION ZONE SIGNS AND CONES, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND LANDING GEAR. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY AIRCRAFT OCCUPANTS OR PERSONS ON THE GROUND. THERE WAS NO USABLE FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND APPROXIMATELY 6 GALLONS IN THE LEFT. ON SCENE THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS OBSERVED ON THE LEFT TANK.
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHANGED TANKS EVERY 30 MINUTES, AND THAT THE FINAL CHANGE WAS FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK SOMEWHERE OVER THE MOUNTAINS COMING INTO SAN DIEGO FROM THE EAST. HE STATES THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR REMAINED ON THE LEFT TANK THROUGHOUT THE EVENT AND THAT HE CONFIRMED IT WAS POSITIVELY IN THE DETENT AFTER EXPERIENCING ENGINE TROUBLE.
AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM AND A RUN-UP WERE PERFORMED. THE INSPECTION FOUND NO ABNORMAL DISCREPANCIES IN THE FUEL OR ENGINE SYSTEM. IT WAS NOTED THAT DURING THE RUN-UPS THAT IF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS ACTIVATED TO THE OFF POSITION, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE AND 39 SECONDS. ONCE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO QUIT WITH AIR IN THE FUEL LINES, SELECTING A GOOD TANK WOULD NOT KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.