Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly manage fuel which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of power to the forward engine.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that on the day of the accident, he elected to fly with a light, and slightly uneven, load of fuel to accommodate for the extra equipment and people onboard. During the low altitude flight, the pilot was not transferring fuel from the right wing fuel tanks to the left wing fuel tanks. Subsequently, the left wing fuel tanks ran empty and the forward engine lost power. The pilot elected to land in a nearby corn field. During the landing, the airplane's forward engine firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engines that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR13CA425 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 12, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Spanish Fork, Utah
- Nearest airport
- Spanish Fork Airport (U77)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna M337B
- N-number
- N87653
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1968
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial observation
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.