# NTSB CEN24LA108: Piper PA-28-180, N2184T, Conway, AR, January 31, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 31, 2024, 17:22 local (23:22 UTC) - Place: Conway, AR · Lat: 35.010222, Lon: -92.575675 - Coordinates: 35.010222, -92.575675 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0102&lon=-92.5757&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 193746 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193746/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193746 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA108 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper movement of the fuel selector to the OFF position, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting an instructional flight in an airplane in which the student had only accumulated 1.2 hours of flight time. During the flight, the student performed one touch-and-go landing, then continued in the traffic pattern. While on the downwind leg, their preset fuel reminder to switch fuel tanks alerted on the GPS. At the direction of the flight instructor, the student turned on the fuel pump and repositioned the fuel selector handle to what he thought was the left fuel tank position. Shortly after, the student noted that the engine would not respond to throttle inputs and had sustained a loss of power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The student reported that during the egress he turned the fuel selector handle to the OFF position. The flight instructor stated that he did not direct the student to switch the fuel selector to the OFF position after the accident and he did not recall any postaccident discussion about the fuel selector. Postaccident examination of the airplane found that the fuel selector handle was positioned toward the OFF position, but it was not completely seated in the detent. A subsequent detailed examination determined that the fuel selector valve worked as expected with a steady flow of fuel when positioned to the left tank and right tank positions. There was no fuel flow when positioned to OFF. When the handle was moved to the same position where it was found after the accident, the fuel flow was restricted and would not have provided enough fuel flow for the engine to increase power when the throttle was advanced. There were no other preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Given that the loss of engine power occurred shortly after changing the fuel selector handle, it is likely that the student pilot inadvertently placed the fuel selector toward the OFF position, thus resulting in fuel starvation after the available fuel in the fuel system forward of the fuel selector to the engine had been exhausted. The flight instructor was unable to confirm the fuel selection during the flight because the selector handle was installed on the sidewall behind the student’s left leg. ## Factual narrative On January 31, 2024, about 1722 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N2184T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Conway, Arkansas. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot reported that before the flight, the airplane was serviced with 48 gallons of 100 low lead fuel, and he and the flight instructor visually checked the fuel during their preflight inspection. During the flight, he performed one touch-and-go landing, then continued in the traffic pattern. While on the downwind leg, he reported that the flight instructor explained the airplane’s fuel system and how to change fuel tanks. Then while performing the pre-landing checklist, the flight instructor directed him to change from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank. Before turning on the base leg, he noted that the engine was not responding to his throttle inputs. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and performed a forced landing to a field. After coming to rest, the student pilot positioned the fuel selector handle to the OFF position and exited the airplane. He also reported that he had accumulated 13.3 hours of flight training in the last 12 months, of which 1.2 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The flight instructor reported that during the instructional flight he was explaining various details about the airplane. They had completed one touch-and-go landing and were on the downwind leg when their preset fuel reminder alerted on the GPS. He directed the student to turn on the fuel pump and position the fuel selector to the left tank. During the pre-landing procedures, the student alerted him that the engine sustained a loss of power. He performed a forced landing to a field, then “shut off” the airplane and exited. He added that he did not direct the student to switch the fuel selector to OFF after the accident and he did not recall any postaccident discussion about the fuel selector. During the accident flight, he did not observe the position of the fuel selector since it was on the opposite side of the student’s leg on the side wall of the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear had collapsed, and the right wing sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector documented the position of the fuel selector, and it was positioned toward OFF, but was not completely seated in the detent. The FAA inspector’s examination of the airplane and fuel system determined that the fuel selector valve worked as expected with a steady flow of fuel when positioned to the left tank and right tank positions. There was no fuel flow when positioned to the OFF position. When the handle was moved to the same position where it was found after the accident, there was a “slight stream of fuel” produced.There were no other preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies identified that would have precluded normal operation of the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2184T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2184T), registered now, S/N 28-7205028, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7205028 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 6589.34 - Engines: Lycoming O&VO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Fisher Global LLC - Registered owner: Fisher Global LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2024 - Airport: CXW, Conway Regional Airport - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 24, 2022; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,015 total, 770 as pilot in command, 196.4 in the last 90 days, 41.6 in the last 30 days, 2.5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 49 total, 1 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: KLRF, 22 nm away - METAR: KLRF 312355Z AUTO 13003KT 10SM CLR 11/04 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP217 T01070039 10147 20085 56009 $ ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240131001009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240131001009A), Jan 31, 2024: Piper PA-28-180, Conway, AR, Substantial damage. At approximately 1730 hours on 1/31/2024 a Piper PA-28 aircraft was flying in the pattern at Conway municipal airport (cxw) with a student pilot and flight… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193746. 37.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (flight instructor) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 911 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16734423&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (student pilot) (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16734289&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Student_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statements (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16734941&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20statements%20combined_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Correspondence - flight instructor (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16734623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20-%20CFI-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16735384&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - FAA examination summary (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16734561&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20exam%20summary%20w%20photos-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 22.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16734752&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Last%20annual_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16848544&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form%20(N2184T)_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.