Accident
On June 22, 2012, at about 1100 mountain daylight time, a Beech A36 (registration N4972M) was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Rock Springs, Wyoming. The airplane was registered to Waldo Air of Bend, Oregon, and operated by the commercial pilot under Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The cross-country flight originated from Bend Municipal Airport, Oregon, at 0717 Pacific daylight time, with an intended destination of Rock Springs.
Pilot Report
In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported that she initially planned to land in Gooding, Idaho, but decided to continue to Rock Springs as the flight was progressing well. After passing Gooding, she noticed fuel streaming from the left wing fuel tank cap and observed the left fuel gauge indicating three-quarters of a tank. She continued using fuel from the left tank until about 25 miles west of Rock Springs, where the gauge showed half. Subsequently, the engine "quit abruptly" at approximately 1,500 feet above ground level. The pilot switched to the right fuel tank and advanced the throttle and mixture, but the engine did not restart. She initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed. The pilot added that she should have turned on the fuel boost pump and attempted the restart procedure but did not have enough time at about 1,000 feet agl.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported that the fuel cap was not secured properly after refueling.
Damage and Examination
Damage to the airplane was determined to be substantial about one month after repairs had begun. The repair facility reported that the nose gear was compressed aft into the engine firewall. The engine overhaul facility reported no mechanical anomalies during the overhaul process. Examination of the left and right fuel tank caps and seals by an NTSB investigator revealed no evidence of preexisting anomalies.