GLIDE, OR, USA
N8957Q
Rockwell S2R
The pilot stated that the airplane ran out of fuel while descending to land after an aerial application. During a subsequent forced landing, the airplane collided with trees and rough terrain, and was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, who was not injured, the right and left fuel quantity gauges read 1/4 and 1/2 full, respectively, just before the accident. The pilot stated that he thought he had about 30 to 40 gallons of fuel in the airplane, because of the cockpit fuel gauge indications. Visual verification of fuel quantity before the flight was not performed.
On October 4, 1996, about 1630 Pacific daylight time, N8957Q, a Rockwell S2R airplane, operated by Ag Aviation Equipment, Inc., Pond Creek, Oklahoma, collided with trees and terrain during an emergency descent/landing near Glide, Oregon, and was substantially damaged. The emergency descent/landing was precipitated by a total loss of engine power during normal descent. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The aerial application flight was conducted under 14 CFR 137. According to the operator in a telephone interview with the Safety Board, the pilot ran out of gas while descending to land after an aerial application. During the forced landing, the airplane struck trees and impacted terrain. The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The operator reported that the airplane's right and left fuel quantity gages read 1/4 tank and 1/2 tank respectively just prior to the accident. In a written statement to the Safety Board (attached), the pilot stated that he thought he had about 30 to 40 gallons of fuel in the airplane, because of the cockpit fuel gage indications. Visual verification of fuel quantity prior to the flight was not performed.
failure of the pilot to perform an adequate preflight inspection, which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of power. Factors relating to the accident were: false indications of cockpit fuel gauges and unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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