- Date
- April 19, 1991, 21:20 local (Apr 20, 1991, 04:20 UTC)
- Place
- Auburn, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1567ZPiper PA-22-108
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report April 8, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 41416
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
An improper fuel selector valve handle, improper selection of the fuel selector position, and the pilot's lack of understanding of the fuel selector position.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical
Fuel system,selector/valve - improperCause
Fuel tank selector position - not understoodCause
Fuel tank selector position - improper use ofCause
Forced landing
In flight collision with terrain/water
Analysis
The pilot stated that the aircraft sustained a loss of engine power when turning from base to final, so he landed in a street. He said he was switching fuel tanks at the time power was lost. The fuel selector handle on this aircraft had been modified by unidentified parties.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1567Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-108
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-8825
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1B, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Brian F. Zderic
- Departed
- S43 · Snohomish, WA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 177 total · 12 in this make and model · 110 as pilot in command · 52 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- SEA, 7 nm away