On August 12, 1999, a Grumman-schweizer G-164B (registration N8253K) was involved in an aviation accident near Ferriday, LA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, leading to a forced landing and subsequent nose-over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An agricultural airplane nosed over during a forced landing to a cotton field after a total loss of engine power caused by fuel exhaustion. The pilot reported no warning before the power loss.
Incident Overview
An agricultural airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while flying 1 to 2 feet above cotton bushes, prompting an immediate forced landing. The aircraft subsequently contacted the cotton bushes and nosed over during the landing.
Pilot and Operator Reports
The pilot stated that there was no sputtering, backfiring, or warning of the impending loss of engine power. After the accident, the operator attempted to sump the fuel tanks and reported that no fuel was present. The operator also conducted a test run of the engine and found no anomalies.
Investigation Findings
The loss of engine power was attributed to fuel exhaustion, as no fuel was found in the tanks and the engine operated normally during post-accident testing. The forced landing to a cotton field resulted in the airplane nosing over after contacting bushes.
Probable cause
The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, leading to a forced landing and subsequent nose-over.