Piper PA32R N181AG

Summary

On 1 November 2019 at about 00:26 local time, a Piper PA32R registered N181AG, operated by Cloud Hugger Transportation Llc, was involved in an accident near Paducah, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 November 2019 at 00:26

Classification

Accident

Location

Paducah, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Barkley Rgnl (PAH)

Coordinates

37.1033, -88.8172

Aircraft

Piper PA32R

Registration

N181AG

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Cloud Hugger Transportation Llc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mitchell → Paducah

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA20FA026

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to fully seat the fuel selector in the proper tank position during the descent for landing, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a visual, straight-in approach for landing when he reported to the tower controller that the airplane had lost engine power. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and terrain short of the runway and was destroyed by impact and a post-impact fire. Examination of the wreckage confirmed flight control continuity and revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. Examination of the fuel selector revealed that the fuel selector control lever was near the right fuel tank position; however, examination of the fuel selector valve revealed that the selector plate was out of the detent and not fully seated in any tank position. Impact marks on the selector plate showed the detent ball was closest to the left fuel tank and the out-of-position plate occluded the fuel port. The first step of the manufacturer’s approach and landing checklist was, “Fuel Selector – Proper Tank.” Given the lack of other mechanical anomalies found during the examination, it is likely that the pilot moved the fuel selector at some point during the descent and approach, but failed to fully seat the selector in position, and the restricted fuel flow was likely less than what was needed to sustain engine power. Following the loss of engine power, the remaining altitude was insufficient to provide gliding distance to the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.