Longview, TX, USA
N583LA
AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602
The pilot planned to spray a field and then refuel. After spraying the field, the pilot circled for about 15 minutes looking for his intended airport, but he could not locate it. He spotted another airport about 5 miles south of his location and headed in that direction. As he approached to land, he noticed the airport had a control tower. He stated that, because he did not have the capability to radio the tower for a request to land, he aborted the approach, crossed the midfield, and rocked the airplane's wing in an attempt to receive a green light from the control tower signaling approval to land. After not receiving the green light, he made a right turn away from the airport, at which point, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot made an emergency landing in a field about 1 mile southeast of the airport. After the accident, he reported that he had exhausted the airplane's fuel supply. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of usable fuel in the fuel tanks or the vicinity of the accident site and no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
On May 23, 2013, about 1815 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602 airplane, N583LA, made an emergency landing in a field after a loss of engine power near Longview, Texas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Red River Agviation, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private airport near Trinity, Texas at 1720 and was destined for East Texas Regional Airport (KGGG), Longview, Texas. The airplane was loaded with chemicals and topped off with fuel for the final load of the day. The pilot planned to spray the field and then refuel in Longview, Texas, before continuing to Garland, Arkansas. After spraying the field the pilot circled Longview for about 15 minutes looking for KGGG, but could not locate it. He spotted an airport about 5 miles south and noticed it had a control tower. He flew over mid-field and rocked the airplane's wings in attempt to receive a light signal from the control tower. The engine experienced a total loss of power and the pilot made an emergency landing in a field about 1 mile southeast of KGGG. During the descent, the airplane impacted trees and then the ground. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that both wings sustained leading edge damage during impact and no evidence of fuel was observed in the fuel tanks. Additionally, the propeller blades exhibited little to no rotational damage. The inspector did not find any evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane or engine and communicated to the FAA inspector that he exhausted his fuel supply. The automated weather reporting station located at KGGG, reported at 1753 the conditions were: wind from 080 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky condition clear, temperature 31 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 20 degrees C, and atmospheric pressure 29.98 inches of mercury.
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which precluded him from locating his intended destination and led to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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