The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel inspection.
NTSB Accidents
Attempt to take selfie leads to ditching in open water
The student pilot’s inadvertent movement of the fuel shutoff switch to the “off” position while attempting to take a picture of himself, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a subsequent ditching in open water.
Bird hits prop, then pilot’s face
The airplane’s impact by a bird during the initial climb.
Passenger hits the brakes during landing
The passenger’s inadvertent application of the brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.
Pilot crashes after being too focused inside cockpit
The pilot’s focus inside the cockpit during the base turn and final approach, which led to a high sink rate developing and a subsequent hard landing short of the runway.
It was like a tornado in the plane
The pilot’s distraction due to an open canopy during final approach, which resulted in a loss of altitude and ground impact short of the runway.
Stuck brake caliper leads to fire that destroys Piper
A stuck brake caliper, which overheated while the pilot was taxiing the airplane, caught fire, and subsequently destroyed the airplane.
Pilot mistakenly retracts landing gear during checkride
The pilot’s unintentional retraction of the landing gear during the landing roll.
Distracted pilot hits taxiway light
The pilot’s failure to follow the taxiway centerline guide and his distraction due to adjusting the radio, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from a taxiway light after landing and while taxiing to a ramp.