Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia, February 17, 2002
On February 17, 2002, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N9302N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia (Shannon Airport). It was a personal 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 private pilot's failure to verify the fuel tank selector position, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 2002
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Virginia · Shannon Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N9302N · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a night instructional flight, while approaching the airport, the private pilot performed a pre-landing "GUMPS" checklist. As part of the checklist, the private pilot moved the selector from "LEFT," clockwise toward "RIGHT." However, he did not visually verify that the selector was positioned to "RIGHT." The private pilot performed the checklist item about 1,500 feet msl, and 3 miles from the airport. The engine subsequently lost all power, and neither the private pilot nor CFI were able to perform a successful restart. The private pilot then performed a forced landing into trees. The private pilot did not move the fuel selector after the accident, and the selector was found in the "OFF" position. A photograph of the selector revealed that "LEFT" was at an approximate "10:30" position, "RIGHT" was at an approximate "1:30" position, and "OFF" was at an approximate "4:30" position. Additionally, the selector was located on the left side of the cockpit, and the private pilot was seated in the left seat.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 403 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 345 as pilot in command; 122 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 7, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 206 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 166 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 9, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,805 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 24, 2001; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HEF Manassas VA
- Destination: EZF Fredericksburg VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 2,910 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 11:42 pm from EZF, 1 miles away
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.