Incident Overview
On September 19, 2018, about 1000 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA28 180 airplane, registration N8003W, impacted fencing and terrain during a forced landing near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The airplane was on a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight operated by San Juan Flyers Inc. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated from Stevens Field Airport, near Pagosa Springs, about 0900.
Sequence of Events
The flight instructor was introducing engine failure emergency procedures to the student pilot. Emergency procedures were reviewed inflight, the instructor located a landing spot, and pulled the throttle to idle to simulate a loss of engine power. The student pilot conducted the emergency procedures from the left seat, including switching the fuel tank selector from right to left, verifying the primer was in and locked, turning on the fuel pump, checking magneto operation, and turning carburetor heat on.
About 600 ft above ground level, the instructor added power to go around. The engine sputtered. Emergency procedures were reviewed again, and the instructor noticed the fuel pressure indication was zero. The instructor did not check the fuel selector and could not see it due to its location. The instructor then performed a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted fencing and ditches before coming to rest in a field.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, the flight instructor observed that the fuel selector valve was about 1.5 to 2 inches between the left detent and off positions. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the site; the engine was started and found to be operational. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the source material.