The pilot had ferried the aircraft to the strip in order to carry out aerial top-dressing operations. At the conclusion of the seventh load for the day, the pilot calculated that he had sufficient fuel to carry out a further short flight prior to refuelling. During this flight, the engine stopped suddenly and the pilot attempted to glide clear of the flooded paddock. The aircraft subsequently stalled and struck an embankment between the end of the crop and a road on which the pilot was attempting to land. Initial inspection revealed that there was virtually no fuel remaining in the tank. No fault was subsequently found with the engine and systems of the aircraft. The pilot had been checking the fuel quantity remaining by reference to the cockpit gauges. Although the engine had apparently failed from fuel exhaustion, the gauges were still indicating that fuel remained in the tanks when the aircraft came to rest.
