PLT OF A THRUSH S2R AGRICULTURAL PLANE RUNS OUT OF GAS ON RETURN FROM SPRAY OP. OFF ARPT LNDG.

Narrative

THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL IN OUR AREA; THEREBY AFFECTING THE CROPS. A CUSTOMER (FARMER) HAD ME SPRAY HIS POTATOES THAT WERE WATER DAMAGED. ONE FIELD I WAS SENT OUT TO SPRAY WAS ABOUT 20 MI FROM THE MOORHEAD; MN; ARPT. THE FIELD WAS 160 ACRES WITH 65 ACRES OF SPUDS REMAINING TO SPRAY AFTER WATER DAMAGE. I HADN'T SEEN THE FIELD AND USUALLY A DAMAGED FIELD HAS MAJOR PARTS REMAINING. BUT IN THIS FIELD THE REMAINING POTATOES WERE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE ENTIRE FIELD SO I HAD TO SPRAY THE WHOLE 160 ACRES (SHUTTING THE SPRAY ON AND OFF) INSTEAD OF 65 ACRES. I FINISHED THE FIELD AND HEADED BACK TO THE MOORHEAD ARPT. I KNEW I WAS LOW ON FUEL BUT THERE WAS STILL FUEL SHOWING ON BOTH WING TANKS WHEN ABOUT A MI NE OF THE ARPT I RAN OUT OF FUEL. I LANDED IN A BEAN FIELD WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE PLANE OR PROPERTY. I REFUELED THE PLANE AND FLEW IT OUT OF THE BEAN FIELD WITH NO PROBS. MY COMPETITOR WATCHED ALL THIS AS HE WAS SPRAYING FIELDS AROUND THE BEAN FIELD I WAS IN AND NOTIFIED THE SHERIFF'S DEPT AFTER WATCHING ME WALK OUT OF THE FIELD AND SEEING THAT MY PLANE WAS UNDAMAGED. I HAVE BEEN A CROP DUSTER FOR 30 YRS WITH OVER 6000 HRS IN TYPE AND HAVE NEVER RUN OUT OF GAS; BUT THIS TIME I DID. I DON'T HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS OR VIOLATIONS.