# Accident 20130805013629A: Air Tractor Inc AT-400, Balko, OK, August 5, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 2013, 10:12 local time
- Place: Balko, OK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: TYWG
- Location: 36.5222° N, 100.8769° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5222&lon=-100.8769&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3159B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3159B-2017-10-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-400 (registry code 0390202, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-400
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,554 total, 285 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13FA465](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA465) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130805013629A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 5, 2013 AT 10:12 LOCAL CDT, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-400 AIRCRAFT BEARING REGISTRATION NUMBER N3159B, REGISTERED TO TURHUNE FLYING SERVICE, INC., WAS ENROUTE TO DO AN AERIAL APPLICATION WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A TOWER, STRUCK THE GROUND, AND CAME TO REST IN AN OPEN RURAL FIELD ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BRYANS CORNER, OKLAHOMA, BEAVER COUNTY, OR ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF PERRYTON, TEXAS AIRPORT (PYX).  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON AN AGRICULTURAL FLIGHT UNDER 14 CFR PART 137.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM TERHUNE FLYING SERVICE, INC. PRIVATE AIRPORT ON AUGUST 5, 2013.

## 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 CEN13FA465](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA465), Aug 5, 2013: Air Tractor AT-400 (N3159B), Balko, OK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure maintain clearance from a meteorological tower while en route at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the sun's glare.

## Other reports on N3159B (1)

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

- [Incident 19840710036069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840710036069I), Jul 10, 1984: Airtrc AT400 (N3159B), Burlington, CO, Minor damage. Pilot reported the aircraft nosed up during an emergency landing after running out of fuel.

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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