# NTSB LAX01LA094: Piper PA-28-181, N8122G, San Diego, CA, February 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 2001, 18:50 local (Feb 9, 2001, 02:50 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.832221, -117.139442 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8322&lon=-117.1394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: WP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51720 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51720/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA094 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the pilot inadvertently shutting off its supply on approach for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - fluid,fuel - starvation/exhaustion (cause) - vfr procedures - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,fuel shutoff - switched off (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The pilot repositioned the engine fuel tank selector to what he believed was the opposite wing tank when in the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern. On the base leg, all engine power was lost and the pilot performed an emergency landing, coming to rest about 1,800 feet short of the runway's threshold. An examination of the airplane revealed fuel in both wing tanks. The pilot acknowledged that he had mispositioned the fuel selector by inadvertently switching it to the off position. ## Factual narrative On February 8, 2001, about 1850 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8122G, impacted a berm during a forced landing at the Montgomery Field airport, San Diego, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the nighttime flight, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was operated by Plus One Flyers, Inc., located in San Diego, and was substantially damaged. The commercial certificated pilot was not injured. The personal flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Montgomery Field about 1830. According to the pilot, he was practicing takeoffs and landings, and he checked the fuel quantity in the airplane's fuel tanks while flying on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to runway 28R. He then repositioned the fuel tank selector to what he believed was the left fuel tank. He stated that he "inadvertently" switched the selector to the off position, and all engine power was lost when the airplane was on the base leg. The pilot additionally indicated that he immediately turned toward the airport. Airport operations personnel reported that the airplane impacted a berm on the uneven soft terrain. The airplane came to rest about 1,800 feet short of the runway's threshold. An examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was present in both wing tanks. The airport operations personnel estimated that both tanks were at least 1/2 full of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8122G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8122G-2008-03-03), registration cancelled 2008-03-03, S/N 28-8090150, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-8090150 - Airframe hours: 7458 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Plus One Flyers, Inc. - Registered owner: B & B Aviation Enterprises - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 2001, 10 hours before - Departed: MYF, San Diego - Destination: MYF, San Diego, CA - Airport: MYF, Montgomery Field, runway 28r, 4,577 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 22, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 326 total, 11 in this make and model, 253 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: MYF ## 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 20010208001989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010208001989A), Feb 8, 2001: Piper PA28181, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) While operating under VMC in the traffic pattern at night, the pilot attempted to switch fuel tanks. He inadvertently switched the fuel to "off". When… 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.