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WPR23LA193

2023-05-20 · American Falls, Idaho, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport U01

Current FAA registration · N77J

Make / Model
CESSNA 140
Engine
CONT MOTOR C85-12 (85 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19560502
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AA6776

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s inadvertent selection of the off position of the fuel tank selector inflight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot the engine lost all power immediately after switching fuel tanks during initial climb. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field, which resulted in the airplane nosing over and substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot told investigators that she may have inadvertently moved the fuel selector to the OFF position and that she observed the fuel selector in the OFF position following the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Fuel system-Fuel selector/shutoff valve-Incorrect use/operation
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Attain/maintain not possible
  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA193.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (fuel starvation). All research papers