Event CEN18LA038

Factual narrative

On November 26, 2017, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper J3C-65 airplane, N11188, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Palmyra Municipal Airport (88C), Palmyra, Wisconsin. Both airline transport pilots were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Flying Hawks Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which departed without a flight plan about 1400. The rear seat pilot stated that he performed a normal takeoff from the rear seat and flew to a nearby area to practice maneuvers. After completing these maneuvers and returning to 88C, the pilots noticed a loss of engine power while on downwind to runway 27. The pilots attempted unsuccessfully to restore engine power and the rear seat pilot turned the airplane toward runway 27. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a tree about 2000 ft short of the runway threshold and nosed over, damaging both wings. Examination of the airplane at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the fuel shut off valve was in the off position. The front seat pilot stated the fuel shut off valve had been inadvertently pulled off by the rear seat pilot. The front seat pilot attempted to push the fuel shut off valve back in but was unable to do so. The rear pilot stated he may have inadvertently pulled the fuel shut off lever instead of the carburetor heat control lever. Earlier in the year, both pilots frequently flew an airplane with a carburetor heat control lever that was in a similar position as the accident airplane's fuel shutoff valve. According to an Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine article, "Negative transfer is the transfer from one cockpit to another--of different design or configuration--of habits or responses which were appropriate in the former but are inappropriate in the latter, thereby posing a threat to flying safety. This danger has been demonstrated not only experimentally but also in a number of aircraft accident investigation reports." Two airline transport-rated pilots departed on a personal, local flight to practice maneuvers. While returning to the departure airport and on the downwind leg, the rear seat pilot inadvertently pulled the fuel shutoff valve, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. The front seat pilot attempted to push the fuel shutoff valve back in but was unable to do so. The rear seat pilot then conducted a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a tree about 2,000 ft short of the runway threshold, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. Earlier in the year before the accident, both pilots frequently flew an airplane with a carburetor heat control that was in a similar position as the accident airplane's fuel shutoff valve. The rear pilot stated that he may have inadvertently pulled the fuel shutoff lever instead of the carburetor heat control. Therefore, it is likely that habit patterns developed from operating an airplane with different flight controls contributed to the rear seat pilot inadvertently pulling the fuel shutoff valve. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine (reciprocating)-(general)-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action selection-Pilot - C
• F Personnel issues-Psychological-(general)-(general)-Pilot - F
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome