NTSB Factual Report

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during an aerial application flight the pilot took onboard more product to disperse than he had initially planned. The airplane was heavy, and he chose not to take on additional fuel, to prevent an over-gross weight scenario.

However, during flight the engine lost power and he forced landed in a dirt field that was water-logged due to recent storms. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that, "I misjudged what I believed to be a safe quantity of fuel remaining."

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power.