N2250S

On October 8, 2018, at 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2250S, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Grass Valley, California. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as an instructional flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to the pilot, she had completed three previous solo flights and this flight was her first cross-country flight. She planned the intended route from Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN) with intermediate landings at Lincoln Regional Airport (LHM), Colusa County Airport (O08), Willows/Glenn County Airport (WLW), Haigh Field Airport (037), Red Bluff Municipal Airport (RBL), and back to AUN.

The pilot reported that before she departed AUN she confirmed the left fuel tank was full, and the right fuel tank was "to the tabs" (approximately 17 gallons). The airplane was not refueled during the cross-country flight. The pilot stated she flew with the left fuel tank selected for most of the flight; once she departed RBL, she switched to the right fuel tank (near Orville, California).

When the airplane was about 5 miles from the Grass Valley Airport (GOO), at an altitude of about 5,000 ft above ground level (agl), the engine started to sputter. The pilot attempted, unsuccessfully, to restart the engine and she contacted the air traffic control tower at GOO to report an engine failure. She was cleared to land at GOO; however, the airplane was at an altitude of 3,200 feet agl and continuing to lose altitude. When she realized the airplane would not make it to the airport, she performed a forced landing to an open field. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing was damaged.

Interviews with recovery personnel revealed that 17 gallons of fuel were removed from the rightwing fuel tank and the left-wing fuel tank was empty.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies.