# Accident 20040731017799A: Airtrc AT400, Clayton, LA, July 31, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2004, 08:50 local time
- Place: Clayton, LA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: G9FG
- Location: 31.7275° N, 91.5828° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7275&lon=-91.5828&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 PT6A20
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,972 total, 390 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA201) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040731017799A

## Narrative

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

(-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 DESTROYED FOLLOWING AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH POWERLINES NEAR CLAYTON, LA. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD FLOWN UNDER THE SAME SET OF POWERLINES 6 OR 7 TIMES THAT AM, HOWEVER, DURING THE LAST, HE FELT THE AIRCRAFT BALLOON AND THE TAIL CAME UP. THE AIRCRAFT THEN COLLIDED WITH THE WIRE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT WING TIP SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, THE NOSE DUG IN AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE 130 GALLONS OF CHEMICALS WERE DUMPED PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. THE REMAINING CHEMICALS AND THE 90 GALLONS OF TURBINE FUEL CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED 90% OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT, EVEN THOUGH INVERTED, WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE WITH MINOR CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED BY POI CLYDE O'NEILL ON CONSIDERING OTHER METHODS OF SPRAYING NEAR POWERLINES.

## 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 FTW04LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA201), Jul 31, 2004: Air Tractor AT-400 (N3159W), Clayton, LA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the high tension power lines.

## Other reports on N3159W (3)

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

- [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.
- [Accident 19890602049069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890602049069A), Jun 2, 1989: Airtrc AT400 (N3159W), Poplar Bluff, MO, Substantial damage. Tail assembly struck wires while pilot was flying under them. Uncontrollable aircraft collided with the ground.
- [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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