Winifred, MT, USA
N600DN
Rockwell S-2R Thrush
The pilot, who was conducting his second aerial application flight of the morning, was operating about five miles away from the airport. Although he knew he was getting low on fuel, he elected to "...make a few more passes to finish the load out." After completing the load, he returned directly to the airport, but while the aircraft was on a base leg about two miles out, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot therefore elected to make a forced landing in a nearby field, but the aircraft clipped a shed during the landing sequence. A post accident inspection of the aircraft determined that, except for a small residual amount of fuel, the fuel tanks had been run dry.
On June 26, 2002, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, a Rockwell International S-2R Thrush, N600DN, collided with a shed during an attempted forced landing in a field about two miles east of Winifred Airport, Winifred, Montana. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the aircraft, which was being operated by Newton AG Inc., sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural application flight departed Winifred, Montana, approximately one hour and thirty minutes prior to the accident, and was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, who was conducting his second aerial application fight of the morning, he was operating about five miles away from the airport. Although he knew he was getting low on fuel, he elected to "...make a few more passes to finish the load out." After completing the load, he returned directly to the airport, but while the aircraft was on a base leg about two miles out, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot therefore elected to make a forced landing in a nearby field, but the aircraft clipped a shed during the landing roll. A post accident inspection of the aircraft determined that, except for a small residual amount of fuel, the fuel tanks had been run dry.
The pilot's improper inflight decision to continue his aerial application flight after he realized the aircraft might be low on fuel. Factors include the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a shed.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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