Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Viola, Illinois 61442
Thursday, July 3, 1997 17:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to spray six different fields. A total loss of engine power was experienced 2 hours and 47 minutes after takeoff. The pilot attempted to circle around and land in the field over which he was spraying. The airplane touched down in the field; however, it traveled through the field, then crossed a road and an embankment before coming to rest. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that there was no fuel in either fuel tank.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation by failing to ensure there was an inadequate supply of fuel for the flight, which led to fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Uneven terrain in the emergency landing area was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/3/1997
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City VIOLA
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61442
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1745 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID MLI
Elevation of weather observation facility 589
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 428
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 3 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1684S
NTSB Number CHI97LA199
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Snow
Aircraft Model S2C
Aircraft Series Identifier S2C
Aircraft Serial Number 600-1259C
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 28 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 80
Airframe Hours 7214
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOS AGRICAIR, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 312
Aircraft Owner City ALEDO
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 61231
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code C00
Departure City ALEDO
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1458
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --