What happened
On August 6, 2025, at 20:35 CDT, an Air Tractor Inc AT-301, registration N23069, was performing an aerial application flight near Davenport, North Dakota, under 14 CFR Part 137. The pilot reported that the mission was proceeding normally and had been completed successfully.
While climbing back to approximately 500 feet above ground level, the pilot observed that the left fuel tank was low and adjusted the fuel gauge indications accordingly. Shortly after this adjustment, the low fuel light illuminated, and the aircraft suffered a loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to restore fuel flow by manually activating the wobble pump, but the engine failed to respond. The pilot then performed a forced landing in a nearby cornfield. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings, and the pilot sustained 1 serious injury.