Accident Details
The accident occurred during an aerial application flight. A few minutes after takeoff, while maneuvering to a field intended for spraying, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted a forced landing on a dirt road. During touchdown, the airplane bounced, exited the road, and struck a ditch.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that when the engine lost power, the fuel gauge indicated about half full. Postaccident, the pilot stated that the fuel gauge was "stuck in the middle" and that he had not visually checked the fuel quantity prior to flight. He further indicated that the fuel supply had been exhausted.
Damage
The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage.
Fuel System Information
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge includes information on fuel gauges. It states that fuel quantity gauges indicate the amount of fuel measured by a sensing unit in each tank, displayed in gallons or pounds. Aircraft certification rules require accuracy in fuel gauges only when they read "empty." Any reading other than "empty" should be verified. The handbook advises not to depend solely on the accuracy of fuel quantity gauges and to always visually check the fuel level in each tank during the preflight inspection and compare it with the corresponding fuel quantity indication.