Piper PA-28-235 accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming, January 18, 2013
On January 18, 2013 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1976 Piper PA-28-235, registered N49DS, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Rock Springs, Wyoming (Rock Springs-Sweetwater County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 inadvertent movement of the fuel selector valve beyond its tank detent, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the fuel selector interlock mechanism.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2013 · about 8:00 pm 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
- Piper PA-28-235, built 1976 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N49DS · registry record · serial 28-7610019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After an uneventful cross-country flight, the pilot initiated the landing descent by reducing engine power. As the airplane approached the airport's base leg, he performed the landing checklist, which included switching the fuel selector valve to the left tip tank. As the airplane turned from the base to final leg, it descended too low, and he applied full engine power. The engine did not respond, and a few seconds later lost all power. With limited altitude to complete a thorough emergency check, he performed a forced landing into rough terrain. During the landing sequence, the airplane struck a fence and berm, sustaining substantial damage to both wings. Following the accident, the pilot expressed concern that he may have inadvertently starved the engine of fuel during the approach, by turning the fuel selector valve beyond its left tip tank travel limit, and to the OFF position. The airplane's fuel selector lever was fitted with an interlock mechanism, which was designed to prevent the pilot from inadvertently shutting off the fuel in this manner. Examination revealed that the mechanism had shifted, such that the fuel selector lever could be moved to a position in-between the left tip tank, and OFF detent without engaging the interlock, therefore possibly resulting in an interruption of fuel flow to the engine. Data extracted from the engine monitor, as well as the minimal quantities of fuel recovered from the fuel system components within the engine compartment, were consistent with a fuel starvation event. A postaccident examination of the engine and successful engine run revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 228.3 hours in all; 7.5 in this make and model; 12.6 in the last 90 days; 7.5 in the last 30 days; 171.5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,869.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 2013; 74.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 4,944 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GCC Gillette WY at 6:10 pm
- Destination: RKS Rock Springs WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm 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
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.