Air Tractor AT-400 N3159W
2 June 1989 · Poplar Bluff, Missouri, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 2 June 1989 at about 18:15 local time, a Air Tractor AT-400 registered N3159W was involved in an accident near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.7601, -90.4001
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-400
- Registration
- N3159W
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Poplar Bluff → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MKC89LA123
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT IN COMMAND MISJUDGED THE CLEARANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT'S VERTICAL STABILIZER FROM THE POWER LINES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE COMMERCIAL PLT FLEW UNDER POWER LINES. THE NEUTRAL STABILIZER FAILED TO CLEAR THE LINES WHICH CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE EMPENNAGE. THE PLT SAID THE RUDDER WAS INOPERABLE SO HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A STRAIGHT AHEAD EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FARM FIELD. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR AND WINGS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Air Tractor AT-400 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 May 1990 | Air Tractor AT-400 | Tyrone, Pennsylvania, United States | Aero Tech, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1992 | Air Tractor AT 400 | Lemoore, California, United States | Blair Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 1985 | Air Tractor AT-400 | Oak Ridge, Louisiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Feb 1993 | Air Tractor AT-400 | South Mills, North Carolina, United States | Hudson Air Service, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 1995 | Air Tractor AT-400 | Hayti, Missouri, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Jul 1996 | Air Tractor AT-400 | Huffman, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 1989 | Cessna T210 | Columbia, Missouri, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 1989 | Beechcraft 35 | Mountain View, Missouri, United States | Morton, Gary L. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Oct 1989 | Bellanca 17-30 | Gainesville, Missouri, United States | Miller, William A. | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Oct 1989 | Cessna 152 | St Louis, Missouri, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Oct 1989 | Piper PA-28-161 | Jefferson City, Missouri, United States | Fritz, Michael A. | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-25-235 | Auxvasse, Missouri, United States | Rufener, James E | Fatal | 1 |