Piper PA28 accident near Tampa, FL
On December 18, 2020, a Piper PA28 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tampa, FL. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 18, 2020
- Place
- Tampa, FL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 27.955°N, 82.528°W
- NTSB ID
- 20201218102432
Official records · ERA21LA081
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Memorandum For Record - Radio Communications: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 18, 2020, at 1322 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N6978W, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida. The flight instructor, student pilot, and passenger (the airplane owner) were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane departed Tampa International Airport (TPA), Tampa, Florida, about 0900 for Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida. Before departing ZPH to return to TPA, the airplane was fully fueled. The airplane departed ZPH about 1307 with the student pilot in the left seat at the controls. The flight instructor stated that the engine was running smoothly during the flight to TPA. The flight instructor stated that he taught the student pilot to accomplish the following items when commencing an approach: fuel pump on, carburetor heat in, mixture rich, flaps set to 10°, and throttle 1,700 rpm, all of which the student had accomplished on the approach to TPA. Review of TPA air traffic control communications revealed that the flight was cleared to land on runway 1R. The passenger, who was seated in the back seat and was videotaping the approach, noted that the student pilot adjusted his seat during final approach, which made the video camera “wiggle.” Moments later, the flight instructor noticed that the airplane’s descent path was starting to get low and advised the student pilot to add power. The student pilot attempted to add power, but the engine did not respond. The flight instructor assum
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power due to the student pilot inadvertently moving the fuel selector to the OFF position.
More accidents in FL
- Grumman G-73T, Dec 19, 2005
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Browse: Florida · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
