Accident Details
On May 15, 2024, at 1450 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, registration N6571J, was destroyed when it impacted a vacant area in a residential neighborhood near Hot Springs, Arkansas. The flight instructor sustained serious injuries, and the student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a Part 91 instructional flight.
According to the flight instructor, the instructional flight had included various flight maneuvers in a practice area. After completing these maneuvers, the flight was returning to the departure airport for a visual approach and landing. During the descent, the student pilot made a fuel tank selection change as part of the descent checklist. The student pilot was flying the approach when the flight instructor directed an increase in engine power. However, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The flight instructor then assumed control of the airplane. The aircraft subsequently impacted a vacant area in a residential neighborhood, and the impact forces and postcrash fire destroyed the airplane.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector valve was positioned such that it did not intersect any of the valve body ports. With the selector between port positions, fuel could not flow downstream to the engine. No other preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions were found that would have prevented normal operation.