NTSB CAROL · Event
Event LAX90LA028
Aircraft involved
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.
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