- NTSB investigation confirms pilot error caused fatal crash
- Fuel selector misposition led to engine failure during landing
- Canadian family of five perished near Nashville airport
New details from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reveal a heartbreaking chain of events that led to the deaths of a Canadian family near Nashville International Airport. The March 2024 crash of a Piper PA-32RT aircraft highlights critical aviation safety issues that continue to challenge small plane operators worldwide.
Investigators determined pilot Victor Dotsenko mistakenly positioned the fuel selector between tanks during final approach - a fatal error that cut power to the engine. Audio analysis showed the aircraft maintained nearly full power (2,650 RPM) until sudden engine failure, contradicting initial witness accounts of mechanical failure.
The flight's tragic trajectory began in Ontario with planned refueling stops in Pittsburgh and Louisville. Aviation experts note this 1,100-mile route pushes the limits of single-engine aircraft endurance, particularly with a full passenger load. Pilots often underestimate cumulative fatigue on long cross-country flights,said FAA safety advisor Michael Chen.
Regional aviation records show three similar fuel management incidents in Tennessee airspace since 2022. A 2023 Vanderbilt University study found 68% of small plane accidents in the Southeast involve pilot decisions rather than mechanical failure.
As controllers desperately tried guiding Dotseno to safety, critical seconds ticked away. The aircraft ultimately crashed 4.8 km short of John C. Tune Airport, bursting into flames near Interstate 40. Emergency responders arrived within seven minutes, but intense fire prevented rescue attempts.
The NTSB report recommends three aviation safety upgrades:
- Mandatory fuel selector position alerts for single-engine aircraft
- Enhanced fatigue management training for cross-border flights
- Standardized emergency glide ratio calculations in pilot certification
This tragedy underscores the human cost of aviation's training gaps. With general aviation accidents increasing 12% year-over-year according to NTSB data, regulators face mounting pressure to implement new safety technologies in legacy aircraft.