On a routine instructional flight over Hot Springs, Arkansas, a Piper PA-28-180 suffered a total loss of engine power, forcing the flight instructor to make an emergency landing in a residential neighborhood. The aircraft was destroyed, but both the instructor and student pilot survived—one with serious injuries, the other with minor ones.
The Flight That Didn’t Make It Back
It was a clear afternoon on May 15, 2024. The 42-year-old flight instructor and her 19-year-old student were wrapping up a lesson and heading back to Memorial Field Airport (HOT) in Hot Springs. The instructor, a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI), had 698 total flight hours. Her student, new to flying, had only 18 hours logged.
During the approach phase, the student pilot changed the fuel tank selector, following the descent checklist. Everything seemed routine—until the instructor requested more power, and the engine didn’t respond.
With no thrust, the instructor took over the controls, searching for a safe landing spot. The aircraft crash-landed in a vacant area of a residential neighborhood and was engulfed in post-crash fire. The student pilot escaped with minor injuries, while the instructor suffered serious injuries.
Fuel Starvation: A Deadly Oversight
Post-accident analysis revealed a critical mistake:
🔹 The fuel selector valve was not properly set, leaving it in a position where fuel couldn’t flow to the engine.
🔹 There were no mechanical failures—the aircraft was in good working order.
🔹 The pilot’s improper fuel selection caused fuel starvation, leading to the engine failure.
It was an avoidable mistake, but one with devastating consequences.
Breaking Down the Cause: What Went Wrong?
The Piper PA-28-180 is a reliable aircraft, but like many light planes, it requires careful fuel management. The fuel selector valve allows the pilot to choose between tanks, ensuring continuous fuel flow. However, if the selector is set between tank positions, fuel stops flowing, and the engine dies—just as it did in this flight.
Key Factors That Led to the Accident:
✅ Student Pilot’s Mistake – The student pilot, in the process of switching fuel tanks, didn’t set the valve correctly. A small misalignment resulted in complete fuel starvation.
✅ Instructor’s Oversight – While the instructor was supervising, she didn’t catch the incorrect fuel selector position in time.
✅ Low Altitude When the Problem Occurred – Because the issue arose on approach, the crew had little time to diagnose and fix it before impact.
Lessons for Pilots
1. Double-Check Fuel Selector Positions
🚨 Never assume the fuel selector is correctly positioned—always verify!
2. Instructors: Supervise Tank Changes Closely
👀 CFIs should monitor fuel selector changes during training flights
3. React Quickly to Engine Power Loss
⚠️ If an engine unexpectedly dies, pilots should immediately check fuel flow, mixture settings, and fuel selector position before considering other causes.
4. Know Your Emergency Landing Options
🛬 The instructor managed to land in an unoccupied area—a move that likely saved lives. Always stay aware of potential landing sites, especially when flying at low altitudes.
Final Thoughts: Small Errors, Big Consequences
While this crash didn’t result in fatalities, it could have been much worse. A seemingly minor mistake—a misaligned fuel selector—proved catastrophic. Never get complacent about fuel management—because even the simplest errors can lead to disaster.
4 Comments
Once, at night, I mistakenly switched to a dry tank in a Debonair. One of my CFIs told me – several times – that if something goes wrong, the first thing to do is undo the last thing you did.
Following that advice in the above situation, I switched back to the previous fuel tank selection. Within about 10 seconds, the engine came back to life. I finished the flight w/o any further problems.
PS. There is nothing louder in flight than a dead engine! 😀
Again not being a pilot. Why would you switch fuel tanks on final? Would it not be better to switch fuel tanks at a higher altitude before downwind or turning to base?
Not a pilot either, and that was my first thought.
Hi Craig. On the approach check you normally switch to fuller tank for the Piper P28A. But you are right. In final the fuel selector should already be set, since the approach check is done in earlier stage. I guess they where still on the approach when they switched the fuel selector.