Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision. A contributing factor was the corn field.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 14, 2005, at 1430 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R, N8962Q, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Walnut, Illinois. The agricultural application flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 137 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported minor injuries. The local flight departed from the pilot's private airstrip, Woodley Airstrip, located near Walnut, Illinois, about 1330.
In his written statement, the pilot reported that after takeoff he "sprayed" a field about 25 miles east of the departure airstrip. He stated that while returning to the airstrip, he experienced "fuel exhaustion four miles east of [the] runway" at 600 feet above ground level. He noted that he turned toward the north into the prevailing winds and executed a forced landing into a corn field.
The pilot stated that there were no malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI05CA185