FTW03LA151

The pilot taxied out and departed the private airstrip to perform an aerial application on a field 25 miles southwest the airstrip. Approximately one hour into the aerial application flight the pilot noticed the "fuel gauges indicated empty." The pilot terminated the aerial application spray run and started a "gentle climb" to gain altitude. The engine started to "sputter and cough", and he initiated an "engine out" landing in the field he was spraying. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear "fell into a small gully" approximately 3 feet deep. Subsequently, the right wing and horizontal stabilizer impacted the ground. The pilot stated that during the aircraft servicing operations prior to takeoff, "the aircraft was not properly fueled as per the pilot's instruction."

On May 15, 2003, at 1420 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B agricultural airplane, N4931R, owned and operated by Agratech, Inc., of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Kinta, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed at 1320 from a private airstrip near Webbers Falls, Oklahoma.

The 4,933-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that the flight departed the private airstrip to perform an aerial application on a field 25 miles southwest the airstrip. Upon arriving at the field, he "began spraying without noticing the low fuel quantity indications." Approximately one hour into the flight, he was half way through his aerial application flight, and noticed the "fuel gauges indicated empty." He terminated the aerial application spray run and started a "gentle climb" to gain altitude. The engine started to "sputter and cough", and he initiated a "engine out" landing to the field he was spraying. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear "fell into a small gully" approximately 3 feet deep. Subsequently, the right wing and horizontal stabilizer impacted the ground. The pilot added that during the aircraft servicing operations prior to takeoff, "the aircraft was not properly fueled as per his instruction."

The pilot stated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 under the Recommendation (How This Accident Could Have Been Prevented) section: "Pay attention to the refueling operations on the ground. Use checklist on takeoff to make sure both fuel tanks are full before taking off."

Examination of the airplane by the operator revealed the outboard 3-feet of the right wing, and the outboard 12-inches of the right horizontal stabilizer, were bent upward approximately 45-degrees. The right main landing gear was also bent.