# Accident 19890602049069A: Airtrc AT400, Poplar Bluff, MO, June 2, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 2, 1989, 13:15 local time
- Place: Poplar Bluff, MO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RGBG
- Location: 36.7601° N, 90.4001° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7601&lon=-90.4001&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3159W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3159W-2006-04-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-400 (registry code 0390202, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT400
- Reported engine: PWA PT6A15AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,750 total, 700 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MKC89LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA123) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890602049069A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

TAIL ASSEMBLY STRUCK WIRES WHILE PILOT WAS FLYING UNDER THEM. UNCONTROLLABLE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MKC89LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA123), Jun 2, 1989: Air Tractor AT-400 (N3159W), Poplar Bluff, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND MISJUDGED THE CLEARANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT'S VERTICAL STABILIZER FROM THE POWER LINES.

## Other reports on N3159W (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20040731017799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040731017799A), Jul 31, 2004: Airtrc AT400 (N3159W), Clayton, LA, Destroyed. (-23) On July 31, 2004, at 0850 CDT, an air tractor AT-400 agricultural airplane, N3159W, owned and operated by goodman's flying service of chase, LA, was…
- [Incident 19900715036689I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900715036689I), Jul 15, 1990: Airtrc AT400 (N3159W), Blaine, MS, Minor damage. Lost directional control on rollout. Found right brake was inoperative.
- [Incident 19890428018959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890428018959I), Apr 28, 1989: Airtrc AT400 (N3159W), Poplar Bluff, MO, Minor damage. Truck drove on runway while aircraft on takeoff. Pilot pulled up abruptly missed truck but flew through wires.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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