On April 21, 1992, a Navion G (registration N2489T) operated by Niles, William L. was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Paula, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to properly position the fuel selector handle during preflight, which led to a total loss of engine power during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot failed to properly position the fuel selector during preflight, causing total power loss at takeoff and a subsequent runway excursion into a storage building.
What happened
During the preflight inspection, the pilot neglected to ensure that the fuel selector handle was fully engaged in its detent position. This oversight resulted in a complete loss of engine power while the aircraft was accelerating for takeoff. With no thrust available, the pilot attempted to utilize the remaining length of the runway to stop the airplane. However, the distance was insufficient to bring the aircraft to a halt before the end of the paved surface.
The airplane continued past the runway threshold and departed the ground, ultimately colliding with a small storage building and a block wall located nearby. The impact caused significant damage to the airframe and the structures involved.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly position the fuel selector handle during preflight, which led to a total loss of engine power during takeoff.