What happened
On March 4, 2024, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registration C-FBWH, was involved in a fatal accident near Nashville, Tennessee. The flight was a personal trip conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) during the night.
The aircraft had traveled from Brampton, Ontario, to Erie, Pennsylvania, and then to Mount Sterling, Kentucky, before beginning its final leg toward John C. Tune Airport (JWN) in Nashville. During the approach to JWN, the pilot was in communication with Nashville Terminal Radar Approach Control. After being cleared to land on runway 20, the pilot did not read back the landing clearance.
While approximately one mile from the runway, the aircraft remained at an altitude of 2,500 ft msl. The pilot requested to overfly the field and return for a landing. While flying south of the airport, the pilot notified the departure controller that the engine had "shut down" and stated, "I'm going to be landing, I don't know where."
Residential surveillance and traffic cameras captured the aircraft descending over a residential neighborhood and passing over an interstate highway. The airplane impacted the shoulder of the interstate, struck an embankment, and caught fire. The pilot and four passengers sustained 5 fatal injuries.
The investigation
Engine examination revealed that the engine was capable of normal operation. The crankshaft, cylinders, turbocharger, and magnetos all functioned correctly. Testing of the fuel injector lines showed fuel was present in cylinders 1, 3, and 5, but no fuel was present in injectors for cylinders 2, 4, and 6. No obstructions were found in the fuel lines.
Investigators examined the fuel selector valve and found it positioned between the "off" and "left main tank" positions. This specific setting would restrict fuel flow to the engine. The fuel selector valve/fuel strainer showed significant carbon and fire damage.
Audio analysis from a nearby residential camera indicated the engine was operating at approximately 2,650 rpm before the sound became abnormal, characterized by "popping" noises, before the engine ceased operation.