Swearingen SA227 accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming, January 11, 2018
On January 11, 2018 at about 1:45 am local time, a 1983 Swearingen SA227, registered N561UP, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Rock Springs, Wyoming (Rock Springs-Sweetwater County airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taxiing in gusting tailwind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 2018 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Rock Springs, Wyoming · Rock Springs-Sweetwater County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA227 AT, built 1983 · all SA227s on the register
- Registration
- N561UP · registry record · serial AT-561
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while taxiing with a tailwind, he realized that the airplane was moving too fast and that he then applied brakes and reverse engine thrust. He added that he attempted to turn the airplane but was unable to do so and that a strong crosswind "forced" the airplane to the left and off the airport parking ramp. Subsequently, the airplane struck a lamp post and came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 21 knots, gusting to 27 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during taxi (to runway)
- Loss of control on ground during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,650 hours in all; 360 in this make and model; 96 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 4,985 as pilot in command; 1,050 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 12, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23,398.8 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 8, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 14,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Airesearch TPE331 SERIES (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Airesearch TPE331 SERIES (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ameriflight, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 2:52 pm
- Destination: RKS Rock Springs WY
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 280° at 21 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from KRKS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 5, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.