# NTSB ERA22LA066: Piper PA28, N5862W, St. Petersburg, FL, November 12, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 12, 2021, 18:31 local (23:31 UTC) - Place: St. Petersburg, FL - Coordinates: 27.76618, -82.50449 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7662&lon=-82.5045&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104270/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104270 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA066 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadvertent selection of an off fuel selector position, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: 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) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed a coastal airport at night. After he transitioned from initial climb to cruise flight at 1,100 ft mean sea level, he attempted to switch fuel tanks and the engine lost all power. He then tried to switch back to the original fuel tank, but accidentally positioned the fuel selector to the off position. The airplane did not have enough altitude to glide to shore and he subsequently ditched the airplane in a bay. The pilot egressed and the airplane sank. The airplane was recovered from the bay several days later and substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilator was noted by recovery personnel. The pilot added that he should have familiarized himself more with the fuel selector and that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5862W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5862W-2022-11-30), registration cancelled 2022-11-30, S/N 28-2376, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-2376 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 4927 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2021 - Departed: SPG, St Petersburg, FL - Destination: ORL, Orlando, FL - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2021; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 720 total, 108 in this make and model, 643 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 108 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KSPG, 6 nm away - METAR: METAR KSPG 122353Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/20 A3002 ## 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 20211112019449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211112019449A), Nov 12, 2021: Piper PA-28-180, St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. PIC moved fuel selector to select fuel supply from other wing tank, but inadvertently moved fuel selector valve to off position causing fuel starvation and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104270. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12958778&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 858 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12958788&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.