# NTSB FTW04LA201: Air Tractor AT-400, N3159W, Clayton, LA, July 31, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2004, 08:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Clayton, LA - Coordinates: 31.7275, -91.582778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7275&lon=-91.5828&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59787 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59787/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA201 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the high tension power lines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - low altitude flight/maneuver - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis While maneuvering during an aerial application of chemicals on a field, the 5,972-hour pilot reported that the left wing collided with the lower set of transmission wires running perpendicular to the field being sprayed, about 60 feet off the ground. The pilot added that he had flown under the same set of wires six or seven times earlier that morning; however, during the last pass, he felt that "the aircraft ballooned and the tail came up." Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2004, at 0850 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-400 single-engine turbine powered agricultural airplane, N3159W, was destroyed, following an in-flight collision with power lines while maneuvering near Clayton, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Goodman's Flying Service, Inc., of Chase, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from the operator's private airstrip near Chase, Louisiana, about 0840. The operator reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that while the 5,972-hour pilot was on the second load of the day, while spraying a soy bean field on a south to north direction, the left wing collided with the lower set of transmission wires running perpendicular to the field being sprayed, about 60 feet off the ground. The pilot added that he had flown under the same set of wires six or seven times that morning; however, during the last pass, he felt that "the aircraft ballooned and the tail came up." Following the collision with the wires, the pilot lost control of the airplane, the left wing dragged the ground, the nose dug-in, and the airplane came to rest in the inverted position where a post crash fire ensued. Examination of the airplane by the operator revealed that the fuselage of the airplane broke in half during the accident sequence. The closest weather reporting station to the accident site was the Adams County Airport (HEZ) near Natchez, Louisiana, located 17-nautical miles southeast of the accident site. At 0915, the Automated Weather Observing System at HEX reported wind calm, visibility 7 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of Mercury. A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) was not received from the pilot or operator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3159W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3159W-2006-04-21), registration cancelled 2006-04-21, S/N 400-0474, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-400 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400) (registry code 0390202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 400-0474 - Engines: Continental IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Donald Goodman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Chase, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 5,972 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: HEZ, 17 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040731017799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040731017799A), Jul 31, 2004: Airtrc AT400, 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… ## Other investigations on N3159W (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. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.