# Fuel selector/shutoff valve - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft systems](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0102) › [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010228) › Fuel selector/shutoff valve - NTSB code: 01022823 - Cases: 177 - In the probable cause: 169 - Fatal cases: 32 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 14 / 14 - 2009: 17 / 17 - 2010: 11 / 13 - 2011: 17 / 17 - 2012: 13 / 14 - 2013: 7 / 7 - 2014: 7 / 7 - 2015: 8 / 8 - 2016: 8 / 8 - 2017: 7 / 7 - 2018: 9 / 10 - 2019: 8 / 8 - 2020: 4 / 5 - 2021: 8 / 10 - 2022: 6 / 6 - 2023: 7 / 7 - 2024: 9 / 10 - 2025: 4 / 4 - 2026: 5 / 5 ## Defining events in these cases - [Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191): 105 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 45 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 6 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 6 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 4 cases - [Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190): 4 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 2 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 2 cases - [Medical event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850): 1 cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 7 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 6 cases - [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235): 4 cases - [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 4 cases - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 3 cases - [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c): 3 cases - [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140): 3 cases - [Beech B23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b23): 3 cases - [Beech A23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23): 3 cases - [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a): 2 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 70 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 64 cases - [Use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030) (Personnel issues): 20 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 18 cases - [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 14 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 14 cases - [Incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010) (Personnel issues): 13 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 12 cases - [Forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035) (Personnel issues): 12 cases - [Fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030) (Personnel issues): 11 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB WPR26LA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA280), Jul 24, 2026: Harmon Rocket II (C-FCPG), Glasgow, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent selection of the fuel selector valve to the OFF position resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent forced landing to a field. - [NTSB WPR26LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA240), Jun 27, 2026: Bellanca 17-30A (N501CR), Santa Paula, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power. - [NTSB ERA26LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA201), May 9, 2026: Sky Ranger SKY Ranger 1 (N8092S), Front Royal, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in him taking off with the fuel selector in the OFF position, and the subsequent total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. - [NTSB ERA26LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA181), Apr 16, 2026: Aeroprakt Mfg SP Z O O A32 (N993CW), Lexington, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and a forced landing to rough terrain. - [NTSB WPR26LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA081), Jan 14, 2026: Cessna 172E (N7783U), Kingman, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to use a pre-takeoff checklist, which resulted in the fuel selector being in the off position, and subsequent loss of engine power during takeoff. - [NTSB CEN25LA393](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA393), Sep 25, 2025: Floyd G Halderman JR RV-6 (N851FH), Cambridge, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s continued operation of the faulty fuel selector valve which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the degraded operation of the fuel… - [NTSB CEN25LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA199), Jun 8, 2025: Cessna 182P (N7376N), Mineral Wells, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper fuel tank selection prior to takeoff, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow the… - [NTSB ERA25LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA161), Apr 1, 2025: Aeronca 7AC (N84065), Martinsville, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot inadvertently turned off the fuel selector valve on takeoff which resulted in a loss of engine power. - [NTSB ERA25LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA207), Mar 29, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N38BS), Winter Haven, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent movement of the fuel selector to a position that restricted fuel flow to the engine, which resulted in the loss of engine power during takeoff. - [NTSB CEN25LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA042), Nov 15, 2024: Piper PA-23-160 (N4143P), Manvel, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of left engine power during the initial climb due to restricted fuel flow as a result of a binding fuel control cable. NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.