What happened
The pilot landed the aircraft to reload chemicals and refuel. During the loading process, the pilot was distracted by a conversation with a customer and failed to refuel the aircraft. Upon takeoff, the left fuel gauge indicated empty, while the right fuel gauge showed between one-quarter and one-half full.
After flying approximately four miles from the airport to the field, the pilot completed two swath runs. During these operations, the engine began to surge. The pilot attempted to turn toward the field to perform a landing; during this maneuver, the engine regained power briefly before surging again and eventually quitting. The pilot performed a pancaked landing in the field. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
An FAA inspector conducted a post-crash examination of the airplane. The inspection revealed that the aircraft contained no usable fuel.