What happened
On 7 May 2001, a Piper PA-28-161, registration G-BSZT, was conducting a private local area flight near Shoreham. Prior to departure, the pilot had verified fuel levels via cockpit gauges and visual inspections, determining that enough fuel was available for the intended mission. During taxiing, the pilot initially used fuel from the left wing tank but switched the supply to the right wing tank while at the holding point.
While performing an overhead rejoin of the left-hand circuit for Runway 0ES, the pilot descended on the dead side and turned crosswind at 1,100 feet. During the pre-landing checks, the fuel supply remained set to the right wing tank. As the aircraft leveled its wings on a heading of 120° during the base leg, the engine began to cough and subsequently ceased operation. The pilot attempted to restore power by checking the mixture and opening the throttle, but the engine only ran briefly before failing completely.
Following a 'MAYDAY' call, the pilot prepared for a forced landing on Lancing Beach. The aircraft descended rapidly, triggering the stall warning as it reached the water's edge. Upon contact with the shoreline, the aircraft traveled roughly 20 metres before hitting a small pebble undulation, which momentarily lifted the aircraft before it came to rest further up the beach. There were no injuries to the 3 crew members on board, and all occupants exited the aircraft safely.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft sustained damage to the nose gear and one wing. The pilot's assessment indicated that while the total fuel volume was sufficient for the flight, the engine failed because the fuel supply was not switched back to the left wing tank, which contained the remaining usable fuel. The pilot noted that a distraction during the pre-landing checklist prevented the identification of this error.