What happened
The pilot departed a private airstrip to perform aerial application services on a field located approximately 25 miles southwest of the departure point. About one hour into the mission, the pilot observed that the fuel gauges indicated empty levels. In response, the pilot ended the current spray run and began a gentle climb to increase altitude.
During this climb, the engine began to sputter and cough. The pilot subsequently initiated an engine-out landing within the field being sprayed. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear fell into a small gully measuring approximately 3 feet in depth. This caused the right wing and the horizontal stabilizer to impact the ground.
Findings
The investigation revealed that during aircraft servicing operations prior to takeoff, the aircraft was not properly fueled according to the pilot's instructions.