Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Furman, South Carolina 29921
Thursday, August 31, 2000 10:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that at about 1045, while spraying, he smelled fuel in the cockpit. He initiated a climb out of the field and at 100 feet the engine lost power. He made a right turn toward a small clearing and set up for an emergency landing. The aircraft cleared power lines and a highway before impacting rough terrain at a slightly nose down attitude. The aircraft then skidded about 50 feet and came to rest. The pilot stated he last refueled the aircraft on August 28, 2000, and that he did not physically check the fuel prior to the flight. He also stated he had no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft. Postcrash examination of the aircraft and accident scene by an FAA inspector showed there was no signs of fuel in the aircraft and no signs of fuel leakage from the aircraft before or after the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to ensure the aircraft contained adequate fuel to complete the flight resulting in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and damage to the aircraft during the subsequent forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/2000
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FURMAN
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29921
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 8
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 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 185
Weather Observation Facility ID SAV
Elevation of weather observation facility 50
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1700
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 474
NTSB Notification Source FAA ATL. Comm. Center
NTSB Notification Date Aug 31 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1210
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9566J
NTSB Number MIA00LA256
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model T188C
Aircraft Series Identifier T188C
Aircraft Serial Number T188038227
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6000
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHRISTOPHER L. STRICKLAND
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 2 BOX 213
Aircraft Owner City CLAXTON
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30417
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STRICKS AIR CARE INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR 2 BOX 213
Operator City CLAXTON
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30417
Operator Code IKOG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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 SC12
Departure City GARNETT
Departure State SC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1005
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:10AM
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 --