- Date
- May 3, 2012, 18:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place
- Cedar Bluffs, NE
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3166WAir Tractor AT-301
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120503009649A
- Case key
- 83558
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While conducting an aerial application flight, the pilot noticed that the fuel gauge displayed a low quantity. While the pilot attempted to return to an airstrip, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a cornfield. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported in a postaccident statement that he ran out of fuel. Postaccident examination confirmed fuel exhaustion.
Factual narrative
While conducting an aerial application flight, the pilot noticed that the fuel gauge displayed a low quantity. While attempting to return to an airstrip, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a cornfield. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. In a statement provided by the pilot to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot said that he ran out of fuel. In addition, a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic examined the airplane after the accident and confirmed fuel exhaustion.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3166W
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0552
- Engine
- P&W R1340 SERIES, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Swancutt Aviation Inc
- Registered owner
- Swancutt Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- McCook, KS
- Destination
- McCook, KS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Single
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.80 inHg
- Observed at
- MCK, 13 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 25 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.