Incident Overview
The pilot of an agricultural aircraft was conducting aerial spraying operations approximately 15 miles south of Flagler, Colorado. During the flight, the pilot reported that he had refueled the airplane with 15 to 20 gallons of fuel prior to the accident flight. The bubble fuel gauge indicated 10 to 15 gallons of fuel remaining.
Sequence of Events
While making a turn to reverse course for the final pass on a field before returning to the airstrip, the engine lost power at an altitude of about 200 feet above the ground. The pilot leveled the wings and lowered the nose, anticipating a successful landing. However, he reported that there was insufficient airspeed to flare, resulting in a hard impact with the terrain.
Damage Assessment
Post-accident examination revealed that the airplane's main landing gear and right wing were broken aft. The pilot stated he was "100 percent certain" that the power loss was due to fuel exhaustion. A subsequent examination of the airplane found no mechanical anomalies.