- Date
- May 20, 2026, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Gause, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4990XRockwell International S-2R
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 17, 2026
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20260520009079A
- Case key
- 203151
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 loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the separated wing fuel tank screen and sealant debris in the fuel tank.
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 returning to the departure airfield after completing an aerial application, the engine lost power and the pilot conducted a forced landing to a field due to insufficient altitude to attempt an engine restart. During the forced landing, the airplane struck trees resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane by company personnel revealed that the right-wing fuel screen was not attached and fuel tank sealant debris obstructed the fuel tank outlet port. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by ensuring that all fuel screens are in place each season and removing any loose fuel tank sealant.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4990X
- Reported as
- Rockwell International S-2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5035R
- Built
- 1975
- Airframe hours
- 9,844
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney PT6A-34, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 2026
- Departed
- PVT · Bryan, TX
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device
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
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 28, 2026
- Seat
- Center
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 24,106 total · 8,242 in this make and model · 45 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KLHB, 10 nm away
- METAR
- KLHB 201635Z AUTO 07004KT 10SM CLR 24/20 A3004 RMK AO2,M
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2026, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.2 MB 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.
Other investigations on N4990X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.