WASHINGTON, NC, USA
N7726Z
PIPER PA-25-235
THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED CHEMICAL SPRAYING, AND WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT FOR REFUELING AND CHEMICAL RELOADING. WHILE ON A TWO MILE BASE LEG, THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A TOBACCO FIELD, RESULTING IN A BENT WING SPAR. IN HIS REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS RELYING UPON THE FUEL GAUGE TO DETERMINE THE REMAINING FUEL QUANTITY, RATHER THAN ELAPSED TIME. ABOUT TWO GALLONS OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRPLANE DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION. UNUSABLE FUEL IS PLACARDED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS TWO GALLONS.
On August 22, 1994, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N7726Z, dragged the right wing during a forced landing roll near Washington, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by Lee Flying Service under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the positioning flight. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Warren Field, Washington, North Carolina, about 1115. The airplane was returning from a spray run for reloading and refueling. The pilot reported that while on a left base leg for landing on runway 23, the engine popped and quit. A forced landing was made in a tobacco field, about two miles from the airstrip. The landing was made across the furrows, which resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear. Substantial damage was done to the right wing when it dragged across the furrows. An inspector from the Raleigh, North Carolina, Flight Standards District Office, Morrisville, North Carolina, reported that about two gallons of automotive fuel were drained from the airplane's fuel tank. Unusable fuel for the airplane is two gallons.
The pilot's inadequate inflight planning that resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the unsuitable terrain, a plowed field, available for landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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