On October 2, 1989, an Air Tractor AT-301 (registration N8842S) operated by Air Crop Care Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Belle Glade, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot lost engine power approximately 30 minutes after takeoff while applying bait to a cane field. A forced landing resulted in the aircraft entering a ditch, with only one quart of fuel remaining.
What happened
The flight crew failed to verify the aircraft's fuel quantity prior to departure. Approximately thirty minutes into the flight, while the pilot was engaged in applying bait to a cane field, the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot initiated a forced landing within the cane field itself. During the rollout, the aircraft descended into a ditch before coming to a complete stop.
Findings
An inspection of the fuel system confirmed that only approximately one quart of fuel remained in the tanks at the time of the incident. The primary contributing factor was the failure of both the pilot and the operator to check the fuel level before the flight.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
What happened in the 2 Oct 1989 Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Belle Glade, FL?
A pilot lost engine power approximately 30 minutes after takeoff while applying bait to a cane field. A forced landing resulted in the aircraft entering a ditch, with only one quart of fuel remaining.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 2 Oct 1989 involved an Air Tractor AT-301, registration N8842S, operated by Air Crop Care Inc., at Belle Glade, FL.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
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