- Date
- April 19, 2018, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Shelby, MT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1283CPiper PA 22
- Defining event
- Approach: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 27, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180419003849A
- Case key
- 97069
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper use of the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine and an off-runway landing.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, while flying over the destination airport, the airplane's engine lost power. He initiated a glide, applied mixture full rich, and restarted the engine, but during the approach the engine lost power again. He checked the fuel gauges and the right gauge read between ¼ and ½ tank, and he switched to the left fuel tank which he knew was full. The engine restarted briefly, but then lost power. He added that, he "must not have put the selector in the [correct] position because [he] had plenty of fuel in the left tank." During the forced landing, the airplane landed off of the runway, rolled for about 20 to 25 ft., the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on its nose. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while flying over the destination airport, the airplane's engine lost power. He initiated a glide, applied mixture full rich, and restarted the engine, but during the approach the engine lost power again. He checked the fuel gauges and the right gauge read between ¼ and ½ tank, and he switched to the left fuel tank which he knew was full. The engine restarted briefly, but then lost power. He added that, he "must not have put the selector in the [correct] position because [he] had plenty of fuel in the left tank". During the forced landing, the airplane landed off of the runway, rolled for about 20 to 25 ft., the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on its nose. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1283C
- Reported as
- Piper PA 22 (135)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-1079
- Built
- 1953
- Airframe hours
- 2,790
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 12, 2017
- Departed
- SBX · Shelby, MT
- Destination
- SBX · Shelby, MT
- Airport
- SBX · Shelby, runway 23, 5,005 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Satellite tracking device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 200 total · 3 in this make and model · 200 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- KCTB, 20 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 981 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.