# NTSB NYC02LA061: Piper PA-28R-200, N9302N, Fredericksburg, VA, February 17, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 2002, 19:30 local (Feb 17, 2002, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Fredericksburg, VA - Coordinates: 38.289543, -77.479324 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2895&lon=-77.4793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-21 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54201 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54201/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54201 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA061 ## Probable cause The private pilot's failure to verify the fuel tank selector position, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent forced 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 - fuel tank selector position - not verified, dual student (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - light condition - night - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis During a night instructional flight, while approaching the airport, the private pilot performed a pre-landing "GUMPS" checklist. As part of the checklist, the private pilot moved the selector from "LEFT," clockwise toward "RIGHT." However, he did not visually verify that the selector was positioned to "RIGHT." The private pilot performed the checklist item about 1,500 feet msl, and 3 miles from the airport. The engine subsequently lost all power, and neither the private pilot nor CFI were able to perform a successful restart. The private pilot then performed a forced landing into trees. The private pilot did not move the fuel selector after the accident, and the selector was found in the "OFF" position. A photograph of the selector revealed that "LEFT" was at an approximate "10:30" position, "RIGHT" was at an approximate "1:30" position, and "OFF" was at an approximate "4:30" position. Additionally, the selector was located on the left side of the cockpit, and the private pilot was seated in the left seat. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 2002, about 1930 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N9302N, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees, during a forced landing near Fredericksburg, Virginia. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed; and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Manassas Regional Airport, Manassas, Virginia, about 1910. According to the private pilot, he descended from 3,500 feet msl to 1,500 feet msl, while approaching Shannon Airport (EZF), Fredericksburg, Virginia. He planned to fly an upwind traffic pattern entry for runway 24, and performed a "GUMPS" check about 3 miles from the airport. At that time, he moved the fuel selector from "LEFT" to "RIGHT." Subsequently, the rpm increased momentarily, and then decreased below 1000. The pilot moved the throttle and propeller lever "back and forth" several times, but the engine did not restart. He was unable to glide to the airport, and performed a forced landing into trees. The airplane came to rest about 1/4 - 1/2 mile from the airport. The private pilot reported that he had approximately 206 hours of total flight experience. About 7 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane, and 43 hours were at night. The CFI had approximately 403 hours of total flight experience. About 87 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane, and 59 hours were at night. The private pilot provided an initial statement to a public bulletin board service. In that statement, he reported "…I really want to emphasize that I was the one flying; [the CFI] wasn't responsible for anything. Additionally, in his initial statement, the private pilot reported, "I felt the fuel selector click into place, which is important." However, he did not visually verify that the selector was positioned to "RIGHT." The fuel selector was located on the left side of the cockpit and the private pilot was seated in the left seat. In his subsequent written statement to the Safety Board, the private pilot reported that he hired the CFI to complete night currency, practice landing the airplane at night, and complete a phase of the WINGS program. In that statement, the private pilot reported "Then I reached down and moved the fuel selector clockwise from the left tank (approx. 10:30 on the circular selector) toward 12:00 and then on toward the right tank. I stopped moving it when I felt a click, which I believed to be the right tank detent." During a telephone interview, the private pilot stated that he did not move the selector after the accident. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel selector was in the "OFF" position. Additionally, a photograph from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff confirmed that the fuel selector was in the "OFF" position after the accident, and before any emergency personnel disturbed the cockpit. The photograph revealed that "LEFT" was at an approximate "10:30 position," and "RIGHT" was at an approximate "1:30 position." The selector was positioned to "OFF" at the approximate "4:30 position." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9302N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9302N-2013-09-17), registration cancelled 2013-09-17, S/N 28R-35002, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-35002 - Airframe hours: 3805 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Hepp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 24, 2001, 59 hours before - Departed: HEF, Manassas, VA - Destination: EZF, Fredericksburg, VA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: EZF, Shannon Airport, runway 24, 2,910 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 20; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 7, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 403 total, 87 in this make and model, 345 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 9, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 206 total, 7 in this make and model, 166 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: EZF, 1 nm away ## 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 20020216004729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020216004729A), Feb 16, 2002: Piper PA28R200, Fredericksburg, VA, No damage. (-23) On February 16, 2002, at approximately 7:15 p.m. EST, a Piper PA-28R-200 N9302N lost engine power and force landed into trees between a housing area and… ## Other investigations on N9302N (2) 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. - [NTSB IAD77FLJ21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77FLJ21), Jun 22, 1977: Piper PA-28R (N9302N), Danville, VA, substantial damage - [NTSB IAD70F0065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD70F0065), Sep 16, 1969: Piper PA-28R (N9302N), Statesville, NC, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54201. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 920 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence to CFI (item 3, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40163939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20to%20CFI-Master.PDF - Photo of Fuel Selector (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40163940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Fuel%20Selector-Master.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.