Piper PA-22-160 N3442Z

Summary

On 2 August 2012 at about 01:55 local time, a Piper PA-22-160 registered N3442Z, operated by Aaron M. Andrus, was involved in an accident near McKinleyville, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 August 2012 at 01:55

Classification

Accident

Location

McKinleyville, California, United States

Coordinates

40.9528, -124.0933

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-160

Registration

N3442Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Aaron M. Andrus

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chico → Eureka

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA340

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s lack of experience in the accident airplane make and model and his lack of knowledge regarding the fuel system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that he had just acquired the airplane and was flying his first cross-country flight in it. He was not monitoring the fuel quantity in the left and right fuel tanks, because he thought the fuel selector was positioned to both tanks. However, the fuel selector was positioned to the left tank for the entire trip. On short final at his destination, the airplane’s engine lost power due to fuel starvation. The pilot performed a forced landing, which bent and wrinkled the fuselage and wings. The pilot had a total flight time of about 150 hours of which only 5 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.