- Date
- June 16, 1994, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pioneer, LA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N10112Air Tractor AT-401
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940616015379A
- Case key
- 19089
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
Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel. A factor was a lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
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 did not refuel prior to the last aerial application flight for the morning. At 50 feet above the ground during the left crosswind initial climb after takeoff the fuel pressure light came on. A total loss of engine power occurred. During the forced landing in rough terrain the airplane nosed over. Structural damage occurred to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and left wing. The pilot said the airplane 'ran out of fuel.'
Factual narrative
On June 16, 1994, at 1200 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, N10112, sustained substantial damage near Pioneer, Louisiana, during a forced landing. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight.
During interviews, conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported the fuel pressure light came on during the takeoff initial climb about 50 feet above the ground as the crosswind turn was initiated. During the forced landing roll in rough terrain, the main gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest inverted. Structural damage occurred to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and left wing. This was the last flight for the morning and the pilot did not refuel. The pilot said the airplane "ran out of fuel."
The operator reported the airplane "ran too low on gas."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N10112
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 401-0701
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Rye, Steven D.
- Registered owner
- Rye Farms
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
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
- 35
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 4,594 total · 180 in this make and model · 4,594 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.