What happened
The aircraft experienced an in-flight engine failure due to fuel exhaustion. At the time of the incident, the pilot had just finished a crop-spraying operation and was flying toward a location to refuel. The loss of power occurred while the aircraft was in transit.
Recognizing the imminent danger, the pilot selected a nearby short field for an emergency landing. Upon touchdown, the tailwheel configuration of the aircraft interacted with the soft ground conditions of the field. This caused the nose to pitch forward violently, resulting in a nosed-over position.
The investigation
Post-accident examination confirmed that the engine stopped due to a lack of fuel. The pilot provided a statement regarding the sequence of events and his decision-making process during the emergency.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was the depletion of the fuel supply. The pilot acknowledged in his report that he should have loaded more fuel initially before beginning the spraying mission. This oversight left insufficient reserves to complete the spray task and reach a refueling point safely.
Safety message
Pilots operating agricultural aircraft must ensure adequate fuel loads are calculated not only for the intended operation but also for the transit to refueling locations, accounting for potential delays or extended mission times.