20000601040149A

(.4)On June 1, 2000, at 1920 central daylight time, an air tractor AT-301 agricultural airplane, N8886S, impacted the terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Garwood, Texas. The airplane, owned by anf air service, inc., of Garwood, Texas, was operated under 14 code of federal regulations part 137. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was fatally injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from a private turf airstrip approximately 30-45 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot had dispensed his last load of fertilizer for the day on the rice field and was returning to the airstrip, when he radioed to the pilot of another aircraft that his airplane was vibrating, but he had full engine power. The other pilot observed N8886S at 150-100 feet AGL on a southwest heading. This pilot flew his airplane past N8886S however, he did not see anything loose on the airplane. He told the pilot of N8886S that there was a farm strip about 1 1/2 miles west of his position. The pilot of N8886S responded that he "would make it back to the home strip." About 15 seconds later, the pilot of N8886S radioed "it quit." The pilot of the other aircraft observed N8886S descend at a 15-20 degree attitude with the wings level. The airplane (N8886S) hit a ditch between two rice fields. The airplane "hit the ditch engine first and turned over." The observing pilot reported clear skies with unlimited visibility and a southwest wind of 8 knots. According to the operator, this was the pilot's fourth aerial application flight of the day in N8886S. The operator did not maintain refueling records for the aircraft. The fueling personnel recalled having fueled the aircraft during the day; however, they did not recall the time of the last refueling.