Piper PA-36-285, VH-BQD, 12 km north-north-east of Moura, Queensland, on 13 September 1989

Circumstances:

The pilot had completed spreading the third load of herbicide on a paddock and was setting course for his employer's home base when the engine lost power. After conducting emergency checks engine power was restored. The mixture was leaned and a climb initiated while continuing to return to the strip. While the aircraft was still some distance from home the engine stopped. The pilot conducted a landing, downwind and downhill, across a contour bank in a wheat paddock. Examination of the aircraft by the owner disclosed that the aircraft had run out of fuel. The pilot had been using higher power settings and richer mixture settings than anticipated by the owner, who was monitoring the pilot's performance. The pilot had not landed into wind, nor had he selected an appropriate landing area when faced with the need to conduct a forced landing.

Significant Factors:

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:

1. The pilot did not monitor the fuel state adequately.

2. The engine failed due to fuel exhaustion.

3. The pilot did not select a suitable area for the forced landing. This accident was not the subject of an on-scene investigation.