LAX90LA028

1989-11-08 · CHANDLER, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport P10

Aircraft involved

N25644 Piper PA38-112 None

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY USE THE CHECKLIST AND THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IMPROPERLY SELECTED TO THE EMPTY TANK.

Factual narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT RETURNED FROM THE PRACTICE AREA TO PERFORM TOUCH-&-GO'S. DURING THE FIRST TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS RELANDED BUT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RWY. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK WHICH WAS EMPTY. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 10 GALS OF FUEL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_LAX90LA028.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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