CEN18LA381

Factual narrative

On September 19, 2018, about 1000 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA28 180 airplane, N8003W, impacted fencing and terrain during a forced landing near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, following an inflight loss of engine power. The airline transport pilot rated flight instructor and the student pilot were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the impact with fencing. The airplane was registered to and operated by San Juan Flyers Inc. as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Stevens Field Airport, near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, about 0900.According to the flight instructor's accident report, the flight instructor was introducing engine failure emergency procedures to the student pilot. Emergency procedures were reviewed inflight, the instructor located a landing spot, and pulled the throttle to idle to simulate a loss of engine power. The student pilot conducted the emergency procedures on the left side of the cockpit that included switching the fuel tank selector position from right to left, verifying the primer was in and locked, turning on the fuel pump, checking magneto operation, and turning the carburetor heat on. The flight instructor subsequently added power to go around about 600 ft above the ground. The engine sputtered. Emergency procedures were reviewed again and the flight instructor noticed that the fuel pressure indication was zero. The flight instructor did not check the fuel selector nor could the selector be seen due to its location. The flight instructor subsequently performed a forced landing during which the airplane impacted fencing and ditches before coming to rest in a field. Following the accident, the flight instructor observed the fuel selector valve was about 1.5 to 2 inches between the left detent and off positions. Subsequent to the accident, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the accident airplane at the accident site. The airplane's engine was started, and the engine was operational. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation and had a safety recommendation to double check the fuel selector valve position during the forced landing demonstration. The airline transport pilot rated flight instructor was introducing engine failure emergency procedures to the student pilot. Emergency procedures were reviewed inflight. The flight instructor then reduced the engine power to idle to simulate a loss of engine power. The student pilot conducted the emergency procedures on the left side of the cockpit that included switching the fuel tank selector position from right to left. The engine sputtered when the flight instructor subsequently added power to go around about 600 ft above the ground. The engine sputtered. Emergency procedures were reviewed again and the fuel pressure indication was zero. The flight instructor subsequently performed a forced landing where the airplane impacted fencing and ditches and came to rest in a field. Following the accident, the flight instructor noticed the fuel selector valve was about 1.5 to 2 inches between the left detent and off positions. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation were reported by the flight instructor and the engine was operational during a subsequent examination of the accident airplane at the accident site. It is likely the student pilot, while conducting the emergency procedure, mismanaged the positioning of the fuel selector valve. While the student pilot was conducting the emergency procedure, the flight instructor did not adequately supervise the student pilot to ensure the fuel selector valve was properly set to the correct position. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid management - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Student/instructed pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring other person-Instructor/check pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Fence/fence post-Contributed to outcome
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Contributed to outcome