# NTSB LAX81DUG45: Air Tractor AT-301, N3649T, Blythe, CA, August 5, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 5, 1981
- Place: Blythe, CA · BLYTHE, CA
- Location: 33.6535° N, 114.6218° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Blythe, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6535&lon=-114.6218&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 22, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123959
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DUG45
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUG45

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2416   81/8/5  NR.BLYTHE,CA          AIR TRACTOR AT-301  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0430                    N3649T              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 58, 26000 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 200 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         BLYTHE,CA                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - VORTEX TURBULENCE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 9999                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  250                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - SECOND 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- PLT STATED RAN INTO SEVERE WAKE TURBULENCE FM PREVIOUS PULLUP AND TURN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3649T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-301
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810805047609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810805047609A), Aug 5, 1981: Airtrc AT301, Blythe, CA, Destroyed. Struck wires at end of spray run. Factors; dark night, wake turbulence from previous run.

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.

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