Piper PA-28-180 Crash in South Africa Due to Fuel Selector Error (ZS-FTP)

Incident Overview and Context On 12 October 2024, a Piper PA-28-180 aircraft, registration ZS-FTP, was involved in an accident during a training flight. The aircraft departed from Lanseria International Airport (FALA) in Gauteng Province, South Africa, for a conversion training flight to the north general flying area. The flight was conducted under Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011, with visual meteorological conditions prevailing. The aircraft was equipped with a fuel selector switch located on the cabin floor between the front seats, which controls fuel flow from the wing tanks to the engine. The switch has three positions: LEFT, RIGHT, and OFF. During pre-flight checks, the selector should be inspected for smooth movement and proper detent engagement. In flight, pilots typically alternate tanks periodically to balance fuel usage and maintain lateral stability. After flight and engine shutdown, the selector is set to the OFF position to prevent fuel leaks or unintentional flow. This system ensures efficient fuel management and supports safe flight operations. The aircraft was refuelled with 100 litres of Avgas 100LL, bringing the fuel to full capacity. The crew taxied to Runway 07 and communicated with air traffic control (ATC) on frequency 124.00 MHz to request to keep their position for approximately 20 minutes to conduct run-up checks before being cleared for take-off. Once cleared, the ATC officer instructed the crew to turn left, climb to a height of 5,500 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), and report back when outbound north to the general flying area. The crew acknowledged the instructions and took off. Upon reaching outbound, while the flight instructor was reporting back to the ATC officer, the student pilot inadvertently advanced the fuel selector to the OFF position, causing the engine to stop. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft and attempted to troubleshoot the issue but was unsuccessful. The crew broadcasted a MAYDAY call and reported engine failure. The ATC immediately redirected the aircraft back to the airport, granting it landing priority. However, the crew did not respond to the ATC officer’s communication, and the aircraft disappeared from the radar. The instructor pulled up the nose in an attempt to glide; however, the aircraft stalled and descended rapidly, ultimately crashing. An eyewitness who resides approximately 2 kilometres from the accident site stated: “I was outside my house when I saw the aircraft descend in a nose-up attitude. This was followed by a loud bang, after which I saw a large cloud of dust. I immediately ran to the scene which took me approximately 15 minutes to reach. Upon arrival, I found the crashed aircraft with two occupants trapped inside. I pulled them out and called the police.” The emergency services personnel responded to the accident site, and the crew members were transported to different hospitals. The instructor was air-lifted, and the student pilot was transported by road in an ambulance. The accident occurred during daylight at GPS coordinates 25°51'05.69