Piper PA-28-181 | N249WF

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the accident pilot allowed the left tank to run dry in flight. resulting in a night forced landing. The accident aircraft left tank was found to be un breached and had no fuel, while the right tank contained a minimal amount. The fuel selector valve was found selected to the left tank. The resulting loss of thrust in flight ended in a controlled descent impact with trees, the aircraft did not stall prior to impact.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves to be prepared for loss of thrust in flight, and to be able to quickly and correctly perform the associated aircraft specific memory items such as switching tanks, fuel pump on, mixture rich, carb heat on, etc.