What happened
The incident occurred during a training flight conducted under night conditions. Prior to initiating the takeoff roll, the dual student pilot manipulated the aircraft's fuel selector switch, moving it from one main tank to another. Following liftoff, the aircraft climbed to approximately 150 feet above ground level when the engine abruptly ceased operation. The failure was attributed to fuel starvation, indicating that the selected tank did not contain usable fuel or the selector was not properly engaged.
The investigation
Post-accident analysis focused on the position of the fuel selector valve and the actions of the occupants. The flight instructor provided a critical statement regarding the mechanical state of the controls. He confirmed that the fuel selector was not seated in its proper detent, which prevented fuel flow to the engine. Furthermore, the instructor acknowledged that he failed to adequately monitor the student's manipulation of the fuel selector during the pre-takeoff checks.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the improper positioning of the fuel selector and the lack of effective supervision by the flight instructor. The flight instructor admitted to inadequate monitoring of the student's actions, which allowed the misconfigured fuel system to go undetected. This oversight resulted in fuel starvation during a critical phase of flight. The event highlights the importance of cross-checking fuel quantities and selector positions, particularly during night operations where visibility is limited.