Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot inadvertantly turned the fuel selector to the off position and failed to maintain aircraft control during the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's change in his normal habit pattern.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The airplane was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power on takeoff. The pilot landed at an airport to drop a passenger off prior to continuing on to his private airstrip. He stated that his normal habit was to turn the fuel selector off when shutting the engine down, but he did not do that this time. When he got back in the airplane to depart, he forgot the fuel selector was already on and he turned it to the off position The engine quit about 30 feet above the ground during the initial takeoff climb. The nose dropped and the airplane impacted the ground.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI08CA008