Piper PA28 N5862W

Summary

On 12 November 2021 at about 23:31 local time, a Piper PA28 registered N5862W was involved in an accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, 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

12 November 2021 at 23:31

Classification

Accident

Location

St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.7662, -82.5045

Aircraft

Piper PA28

Registration

N5862W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1965

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St Petersburg → Orlando

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA22LA066

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s inadvertent selection of an off fuel selector position, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he departed a coastal airport at night. After he transitioned from initial climb to cruise flight at 1,100 ft mean sea level, he attempted to switch fuel tanks and the engine lost all power. He then tried to switch back to the original fuel tank, but accidentally positioned the fuel selector to the off position. The airplane did not have enough altitude to glide to shore and he subsequently ditched the airplane in a bay. The pilot egressed and the airplane sank. The airplane was recovered from the bay several days later and substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilator was noted by recovery personnel. The pilot added that he should have familiarized himself more with the fuel selector and that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.