Accident Details
The pilot departed a private airstrip to perform an aerial application on a field located 25 miles southwest of the airstrip. Approximately one hour into the flight, the pilot observed that the fuel gauges indicated empty. He terminated the spray run and initiated a gentle climb to gain altitude. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to sputter and cough, prompting the pilot to execute an engine-out landing in the same field he had been spraying.
During the landing roll, the right main landing gear dropped into a small gully about three feet deep. This caused the right wing and horizontal stabilizer to impact the ground. The pilot reported no injuries.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that during aircraft servicing prior to takeoff, "the aircraft was not properly fueled as per the pilot's instruction." He did not specify whether the aircraft had been under-fueled or if the fuel had been placed in incorrect tanks.