Air Tractor Inc AT-602 N455LA accident near Mer Rouge, Louisiana

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot and ground personnel’s miscalculation of available fuel.

NTSB analysis

The accident occurred on the third aerial application flight of the day. Ground support personnel stated they loaded the airplane with about 480 gallons of insecticide and fertilizer, and about 60 gallons of Jet A-1 fuel, which increased the total fuel load to about 160 gallons prior to takeoff. Shortly after rotation, the airplane engine lost power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a soybean field and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.

Postaccident examination of the airplane’s intact fuel system and the accident site found no evidence of fuel. The investigation revealed that the ground personnel and the pilot thought the airplane contained about 160 gallons of fuel prior to takeoff; however, based on the available evidence, it is likely the airplane did not contain fuel, and the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN21LA357 for the full record.