Accident Overview
On December 2, 2019, at about 1240 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, registration N558PU, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a field near Vero Beach, Florida. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was operated by FlightSafety International under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a solo-instructional flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Flight History
The flight originated at La Belle Municipal Airport (X14), La Belle, Florida, about 1130, with a destination of Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB), Vero Beach, Florida. According to the operator, the pilot had departed VRB earlier that day for a solo cross-country flight. He took off from VRB with full fuel tanks (48 usable gallons) and landed uneventfully at X14. The pilot intended to switch fuel tanks one hour into the flight, contrary to the flight school's policy of switching every 30 minutes. He forgot to switch tanks prior to landing at X14 and did not switch tanks on the ground at X14 before departure. During the return flight to VRB, he again did not switch fuel tanks.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
While in the traffic pattern at VRB, the engine lost all power. Unable to glide to runway 4, the pilot performed a forced landing in a field to the south of the airport. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a tree, separating the left wing from the airframe.
Post-Accident Examination
An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration examined the wreckage. Both wings and the fuselage were structurally damaged. The left wing fuel tank was not breached and contained no fuel. The right wing fuel tank was completely full of fuel. The cockpit fuel selector handle was found in the left tank position.
Findings
The fuel selector was positioned to the left tank, which was empty, while the right tank remained full. The pilot did not switch fuel tanks during the flight, leading to fuel starvation.