Event ERA14LA105

Factual narrative

On January 26, 2014, about 1600 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, N36086, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff in Millen, Georgia. The certificated private pilot/owner sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed a private grass strip with Baldwin County Airport (MLJ), Midgeville, Georgia as the intended destination.The pilot/owner was interviewed by telephone after he provided a written statement. He said that preflight, start-up, run-up, and taxi checks all appeared "normal" with no anomalies noted. He sat as the airplane idled for several minutes while he made telephone calls, then taxied back to retrieve an item from his wife who handed it to him through the airplane's door as the engine continued to run. The pilot then taxied back into position, performed a before-takeoff check "by the checklist" and took off. After retracting the landing gear during the initial climb, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot lowered the landing gear, and maneuvered the airplane toward an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane struck baled hay on the border of the field and came to rest inverted with the wings separated. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was issued September 8, 2012. The pilot reported 808 total hours of flight experience, of which 384 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The airplane was manufactured in 1978 and its most recent annual inspection was completed on March 24, 2013, at 4,359 total aircraft hours. The airplane was recovered from the scene and moved to a recovery facility in Griffin, Georgia, where it was examined by an FAA aviation safety inspector. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector lever was adjacent to the left tank position, but out of the detent. Manipulation of the lever revealed smooth operation and positive detents at each position selected. A can of fuel was plumbed into the fuel system, and the propeller and starter were replaced due to impact damage. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran without interruption, with no anomalies noted. The pilot/owner said that the preflight, engine start, run-up, and taxi checks all appeared "normal" with no anomalies noted. During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot lowered the landing gear and maneuvered the airplane toward an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane struck baled hay on the border of the field and came to rest inverted with the wings separated. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector lever was adjacent to the left tank position but that it was out of the left tank detent. Manipulation of the lever revealed smooth operation and positive detents at each position selected. A can of fuel was plumbed into the fuel system, and the propeller and starter were replaced due to impact damage. The engine was then started, and it accelerated smoothly and ran without interruption with no anomalies noted. It is likely that the fuel selector being out of the of left tank detent resulted in reduced fuel flow to the engine and the subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. 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 systems-Fuel system-Fuel selector/shutoff valve-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incomplete action-Pilot - C