Piper PA-28-161 accident near Rockwall, Texas, July 25, 1998
On July 25, 1998 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N30117, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of the fuel tank selector resulting in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. A factor was the pilot's failure to follow the check list.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1998 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Rockwall, Texas · Rockwall Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N30117 · registry record · serial 28-7916077
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After entering downwind at the Rockwall Municipal Airport and as the pilot was about to perform pre-landing checklist, the 'engine completely quit.' The pilot turned towards the runway and switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank, but the engine did not restart. The aircraft touched down to the right of the approach end of the displaced threshold at about a 10 degree angle. The aircraft went off the right side of the runway into a down-sloped grassy area, and then crossed a taxiway perpendicular to the runway. The aircraft came to a stop upright facing towards the runway. Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank was approximately half-full. The Rockwall Airport manager reported that he had moved the fuel selector from the left tank position to the off position. During preflight, the pilot observed the fuel in each fuel tank at the tab, which is a total of 17 gallons in each tank. The pilot reported she used the right tank for taxi and climb, and the left tank for cruise.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 569 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 513 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,100 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 23, 1998; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mvp Aero Academy, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: EYQ Houston TX at 2:00 pm
- Destination: F46
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,371 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.