Piper PA-18-150 N9292Z

Summary

On 29 October 1989 at about 00:57 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N9292Z, operated by West Valley Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 October 1989 at 00:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Palo Alto, California, United States

Nearest airport

Palo Alto (PAO)

Coordinates

37.3403, -121.8796

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N9292Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

West Valley Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Half Moon Bay → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX90LA020

Nobody was injured.

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IMPROPERLY SUPERVISED THE FLIGHT AND THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY SET THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE IN THE PROPER POSITION. BOTH PILOTS FAILED TO USE THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHEN ENTERING THE DOWNWIND LEG THE PVT PLT DUAL STUDENT REPORTEDLY SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE OF THE FULLEST TANK. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY UNTIL THE LOCAL CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE FLIGHT TO GO AROUND, WHEN THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CFI ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE AIRPLANE AND EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DIKE AND NOSED-OVER INTO A SLOUGH. THE CFI STATED THAT HE SUSPECTED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS NOT PROPERLY SEATED IN THE DETENT POSITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.