ATL84LA051

Factual narrative

THE ACFT DITCHED IN A RESERVOIR AT NIGHT AFTER A POWER LOSS. THE PLT WAS DESCENDING TO LAND, IN PREPARATION FOR THE LANDING THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS ON THE SELECTOR VALVE TO WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS BOTH TANKS POSITION. SHORTLY AFTER THISTHE ENGINE QUIT. THE PLT CHECKED THE FUEL SELECTOR BUT DID NOT CHANGE IT. HE CHANGED THE MAGNETO FROM BOTH TO RIGHT AND BACK TO BOTH. WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART HE WAS FORCED TO DITCH SHORT OF THE ARPT. THE OCCUPANTS EXITED AND SWAM TO SHORE SAFELY. WHEN THE ACFT WAS SALVAGED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. NO FUEL WAS IN THE GASCOLATOR OR CARBURETOR. THE PLT STATED THAT THIS FUEL SELECTOR WAS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ACFT HE HAD FLOWN AND IN THE DARKNESS HE SELECTED AN IMPROPER POSITION. THE 'OFF' POSITION IS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE THE 'BOTH' POSITION. THERE IS NO GUARD OR PROTECTIVE DEVICE TO PREVENT MOVING THE SELECTOR TO OFF INADVERTENTLY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12