- Date
- July 3, 1997, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- Viola, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1684SSnow S2C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 30, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970703016919A
- Case key
- 10621
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 inadequate preflight planning/preparation by failing to ensure there was an inadequate supply of fuel for the flight, which led to fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Uneven terrain in the emergency landing area was a related factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to spray six different fields. A total loss of engine power was experienced 2 hours and 47 minutes after takeoff. The pilot attempted to circle around and land in the field over which he was spraying. The airplane touched down in the field; however, it traveled through the field, then crossed a road and an embankment before coming to rest. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that there was no fuel in either fuel tank.
Factual narrative
On July 3, 1997, at 1745 central daylight time, a Snow S2C, N1684S, operated by a commercial pilot, collided with the terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The accident occurred in Viola, Illinois. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Aledo, Illinois, at 1458 cdt.
The pilot reported he had a full chemical load and a full load of fuel (100 gallons) on takeoff. He reported he sprayed 6 different fields and while spraying the last field a loss of power occurred. The pilot attempted to circle around and land in the field which he was spraying. The airplane touched down in the field; however, it continued to travel across a road and an embankment prior to coming to rest.
Inspection of the airplane immediately following the accident revealed a lack of fuel in the fuel tanks. See attached Illinois State Police Aircraft Accident Report. In addition, the owner/operator of the airplane stated the pilot ran the airplane out of fuel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1684S
- Reported as
- Snow S2C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 600-1259C
- Airframe hours
- 7,214
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Jos Agricair, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 28, 1997 · 80 hours before
- Departed
- C00 · Aledo, IL
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
- 57
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 9,312 total · 80 in this make and model · 8,983 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MLI, 18 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.