Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Belle Glade, Florida 33430
Monday, October 2, 1989 12:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

NEITHER THE PLT NOR THE OPERATOR CHECKED THE ACFT'S FUEL LEVEL BEFORE THE FLT. THE PLT RPRTD THAT ABOUT 30 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, AS HE WAS APPLYING BAIT TO A CANE FIELD, THE ENG LOST POWER. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE CANE, BUT THE ACFT WENT INTO A DITCH BEFORE STOPPING. AN INSPN OF THE FUEL SYS REVEALED ABOUT 1 QT OF FUEL WAS REMAINING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE TERRAIN CONDITION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/2/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BELLE GLADE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33430
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 10
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1251 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 84
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 13
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 30000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1371
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 2 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1311
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39669
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8842S
NTSB Number MIA90LA001
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 AIR TRACTOR
Aircraft Model AT-301
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-301
Aircraft Serial Number 301-0207
Certified Max Gross Weight 7710
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 Apr 2 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 434
Airframe Hours 3850
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIRCROP CARE INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 401
Aircraft Owner City BELL GLADE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33430
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR CROP CARE INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 401
Operator City BELLE GLADE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33430
Operator Code
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 X10
Departure City BELLE GLADE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code X10
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --