NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — Approximately one year ago, a family of five perished in a small plane crash outside of Nashville. A recently released report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the crash was the result of pilot error. Keith Williams of the Keith Williams Law Group said that pilots must ensure that the fuel selector switch is seated in the proper position.

On March 4, 2024 at 7:43 p.m. local time, a plane carrying pilot Victor Dotesnko and his family — his wife Rimma and their three children, David, Adam and Emma — crashed into the shoulder of Interstate 40 near Charlotte Pike.

According to the report, Dotsenko and his family departed from Brampton-Caledon Airport in Canada in his Piper PA-32RT-300T, C-FBWH plane at 12:22 p.m. One hour later, they landed at Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field in Pennsylvania to refuel. He left an hour and a half later and refueled again at Mount Sterling/Montgomery Airport in Kentucky.

He then flew toward John C Tune Airport in Nashville, leaving Mount Sterling at approximately dusk. As he was trying to land, the pilot relayed to air traffic control that he overshot the runway and his engine lost power. The plane then crashed into an embankment near I-40.

According to the NTSB, the cause of the crash was the result of the pilot failing to make sure the fuel selector was in its proper place during the approach and landing. Mechanical error was ruled out; instead, the agency said, because of the fuel selector’s placement, the fuel was not getting to the engine.

“The NTSB found no other mechanical problems with the plane. It was that the pilot failed to check to see that the fuel selector was in its proper position,” Mr. Williams said. “That would starve the engine of fuel, as the NTSB said, and cause the engine to lose total power and fail.”

In addition to his practice, Mr. Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section and a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.