What happened
The pilot was conducting a flight with the primary objective of photographing agricultural fields. During the cruise portion of the flight, the engine experienced an unexpected loss of power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful in restoring power.
With no option for continued flight, the pilot initiated an emergency landing procedure. The aircraft touched down in a bean field that had been softened by recent rainfall. Shortly after touchdown, the nose gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to nosed over.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed approximately 5 gallons of fuel remaining in each wing tank. A thorough inspection and run-up of the engine were conducted to determine if a mechanical issue contributed to the power loss. The examination found no preimpact mechanical failures or anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor leading to the accident was the fuel exhaustion which caused the loss of engine power. The soft ground conditions in the bean field likely contributed to the nose-over upon touchdown, but the root cause remained the depletion of usable fuel.