# NTSB WPR12CA400: Piper PA-32-300, N308DF, Lancaster, CA, September 4, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 4, 2012, 08:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, CA - Coordinates: 34.745834, -118.220001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7458&lon=-118.2200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84949 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA400 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84949/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84949 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA400 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadvertent selection of an empty fuel tank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=7103212), [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-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was flying solo back to her home airport after completing a lesson with a flight instructor. Before the flight instructor exited the airplane, the student pilot verified that the right main fuel tank was selected and full. However, as the airplane climbed through about 700 feet above ground level, the engine began to sputter. The student pilot checked the ignition switch and turned on the boost pump. She elected to land straight ahead in an empty field rather than try to turn back to the runway and made a soft field, power-off landing. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear began to sink into a furrow. The airplane’s nose gear collapsed, resulting in damage to the firewall. The student stated that the fuel selector valve had been problematic due to the lightness of the stop between the right main and the right wing tip positions. On previous occasions, she had noticed that it could be inadvertently moved from the right main to the tip, and had developed a method of planting her hand before selecting the right main so as to prevent the selector from moving through the stop to the right tip. After the accident, she verified that the fuel selector was in the right tip tank position, and that tank was empty. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was flying back to her home airport after completing a flight lesson with a certified instructor pilot (CFI). Prior to letting the CFI out of the airplane, the student verified that the right main fuel tank was active and full. About 700 feet above ground level, the engine began to sputter. The student pilot checked the ignition switch, and turned on the boost pump. She elected to land straight ahead into an empty field rather that attempt to turn back to the runway, and made a soft field power-off landing. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear began to sink into a furrow. This twisted the airplane; the nose gear collapsed, and the right main landing gear was bent. The student pilot was not injured. She stated that the fuel selector valve had been problematic due to its position and the lightness of the stop between the right main and the right wing tip positions. On previous occasions, she had noticed that it could be inadvertently moved from the right main to the tip, and had developed a method of planting her hand before selecting the right main so as to prevent the selector from moving through the stop to the right tip. After the accident, she verified that the fuel selector was in the right tip tank position, and that tank was empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N308DF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N308DF), registered now, S/N 32-7840015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7840015 - Airframe hours: 2803 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cangiano Lorene D - Registered owner: Cangiano Lorene D - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, November 18, 2011 - Departed: WJF, Lancaster, CA - Destination: L70, Agua Dulce, CA - Airport: WJF, William J Fox ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 62; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 140 total, 120 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KWJF ## 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 20120904021479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120904021479A), Sep 4, 2012: Piper PA-32-300, Lancaster, CA, Substantial damage. On 09/04/2012, 0848, N308DF, a Piper PA-32-300, during takeoff lost power and landed off the east end of fox field runway, Lancaster, CA. The pilot was the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 12, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84949. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378762&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.