What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Power failure, not enough field to land. Couldn't make it over trees at end. Opted for safest spot in trees. (-23) on March 15, 1996, at 0950 CST, an air tractor 502, operated by garland aviation received substantial damage during a forced landing about 8 miles north of Texarkana, AR. While making a 180 degree turn-around after completing an application run, the engine quit. Aircraft impacted trees at end of the field. Engine tear-down inspection revealed no reason or evidence for a premature engine shutdown. Fuel was found in all fuel lines and controls. Main fuel filter contained a sufficient quantity of foreign substance, believed to be microbial growth. Pilot reported the fuel quantity gauge indicated left fuel tank at one-fourth full and right tank at one-eighth full when the engine quit.
As the FAA filed it
POWER FAILURE, NOT ENOUGH FIELD TO LAND. COULDN'T MAKE IT OVER TREES AT END. OPTED FOR SAFEST SPOT IN TREES. (-23) ON MARCH 15, 1996, AT 0950 CST, AN AIR TRACTOR 502, OPERATED BY GARLAND AVIATION RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING ABOUT 8 MILES NORTH OF TEXARKANA, AR. WHILE MAKING A 180 DEGREE TURN-AROUND AFTER COMPLETING AN APPLICATION RUN, THE ENGINE QUIT. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES AT END OF THE FIELD. ENGINE TEAR-DOWN INSPECTION REVEALED NO REASON OR EVIDENCE FOR A PREMATURE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. FUEL WAS FOUND IN ALL FUEL LINES AND CONTROLS. MAIN FUEL FILTER CONTAINED A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF FOREIGN SUBSTANCE, BELIEVED TO BE MICROBIAL GROWTH. PILOT REPORTED THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE INDICATED LEFT FUEL TANK AT ONE-FOURTH FULL AND RIGHT TANK AT ONE-EIGHTH FULL WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N4540C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.