# NTSB WPR13LA248: Air Tractor AT-301, N23647, Wheatland, WY, May 24, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 2013, 08:10 local (14:10 UTC) - Place: Wheatland, WY - Coordinates: 42.053054, -105.010276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0531&lon=-105.0103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87026 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87026/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87026 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA248 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's inadequate fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed for the agricultural aerial application flight with enough fuel to fly for about 1 hour 45 minutes. However, about 45 minutes into the flight, he noticed that the fuel gauges were indicating a low-fuel condition. He disregarded the gauges and continued his flight because he believed he had adequate fuel to complete the flight. A short time later, the engine lost power, and during the forced landing, the airplane impacted an irrigation ditch. Postaccident examination revealed about 1 gallon of fuel in each wing tank and no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Further, no evidence of fuel staining streaks or other indications of fuel leakage were found on the airplane. It is likely that the pilot overestimated the amount of fuel onboard the airplane at the beginning of the flight and that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 2013, about 0810 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor, Inc., AT-301, N23647, was substantially damaged when it impacted an irrigation ditch during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power near Wheatland, Wyoming. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight, which had originated from Phifer Airfield, Wheatland, approximately 45 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot said that 2 days prior to the accident flight he topped off the left wing fuel tank. On the day of the accident, he visually verified the fuel quantity in both wing tanks and determined that there was 80 gallons of fuel onboard. The fuel gauges were indicating between ½ and ¾ fuel in each wing tank prior to engine start. The airplane's manufacturer stated that each wing was equipped with a 60-gallon fuel tank. The pilot stated that he had been experiencing an average fuel burn rate of 45 gallons per hour. The pilot said that while applying applicant, approximately 45 minutes into the flight, he noticed that the fuel gauges were indicating a low fuel condition. He checked his flight time, and believing that he had started with a total of 1 hour 45 minutes of fuel, he continued to apply applicant. A short time later the low fuel pressure light illuminated, and soon thereafter, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot performed a forced landing straight ahead. During the landing roll, the main landing gear impacted an irrigation ditch, which separated a main structural piece in the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed about 1 gallon of fuel in each wing tank. The pilot stated that he identified no mechanical discrepancies to explain the loss of fuel during the flight. Additionally, he could find no fuel staining streaks or other indication of fuel leakage anywhere on the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23647](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23647), registered now, S/N 301-0407, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-301 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 301-0407 - Year built: 1981 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Shepard Robert B, doing business as Platte Valley Aviation - Registered owner: Shepard Robert B - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 25, 2013 - Departed: EAN, Wheatland, WY - Destination: EAN, Wheatland, WY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2013; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,800 total, 250 in this make and model, 2,600 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: TOR, 35 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130524008599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130524008599A), May 24, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-301, Wheatland, WY, Substantial damage. On may 24, 2013, N23647 departed the ean airport at 0730 to apply chemical. The aircraft lost power and received substancial damage one mile west of ean. No… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87026. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.