Originally Posted by
zegnaangelo
hi why would you not switch the fuel tanks (truly curious)
I thought the F in FCMIT is "fuel most full". practically it should be Fuel Pump+switch fuel tank (unless you are 100% sure that the other tank has been bled dry?).
i have practically zero time in a PA-28. I prefer flying high wing so we don't have to bother about switching fuel tanks tbh (my instructor keeps going on about him liking the Piper better - but i dont like them because of single door and this switching tank stuff (and doesnt feel convenient to reach that knob...))
Michelle addresses this question in the interview. I'm paraphrasing but she missed switching the tank, and thinks that doing so could possibly have allowed a restart. When the failure happened I think she said she was below 1,500ft and immediately assumed the engine would not be restartable so thoughts and planning went immediately to a forced landing.