Piper PA-32R accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, May 13, 2000
On May 13, 2000 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R, registered N4148R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona (Scottsdale airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's inadvertant movement of the fuel selector to the "off" positon when selecting the alternate tank, and the flight instructor's lack of verification that the fuel selector was in the proper position during the emergency procedure checklist. A factor was the worn fuel selector "off" detent that allowed inadvertent movement of the fuel selector to the "off" position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2000 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Casa Grande, Arizona · Scottsdale
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R · all PA-32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4148R · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a practice instrument approach to the airport and completing the landing checklist procedure. Part of this procedure was to switch to the tank with the most fuel. The student switched the fuel selector to the "off" position inadvertently. The engine lost power and the instructor directed the student to then read off the emergency checklist. Engine power did not return because the student omitted the checklist item to place the fuel selector in the fullest tank, having already switched to the fullest tank. A forced landing off the airport ensued and the fuel selector remained off. The investigation revealed a bend in the fuel selector stop arm, which allowed the selector to travel to the off position.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 830 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 711 as pilot in command; 484 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 116 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 50 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 26, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0-540-KIG-5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from CGZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.