What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The aircraft was returning from a local flight lesson. While in the airport traffic pattern, the pilot performed the pre-landing checklist. This checklist requires the pilot to switch to the "fullest tank". The fuel selector was apparently moved from the right-tank position to the off position when it was rotated past the left-tank position. This cut off fuel to the engine and the engine lost power about a minute later. The pilot made a forced landing amongst the trees short of runway 16 at ktpl.
As the FAA filed it
THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING FROM A LOCAL FLIGHT LESSON. WHILE IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE PILOT PERFORMED THE PRE-LANDING CHECKLIST. THIS CHECKLIST REQUIRES THE PILOT TO SWITCH TO THE "FULLEST TANK". THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS APPARENTLY MOVED FROM THE RIGHT-TANK POSITION TO THE OFF POSITION WHEN IT WAS ROTATED PAST THE LEFT-TANK POSITION. THIS CUT OFF FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER ABOUT A MINUTE LATER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AMONGST THE TREES SHORT OF RUNWAY 16 AT KTPL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.