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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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July 31, 2004 · Air Tractor AT-400 · N3159W

Clayton, LA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 31, 2004
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Clayton, LA
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-400
Tail Number
N3159W
Operator
Goodman S Flying Service
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW04LA201

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.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the high tension power lines.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:50 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-400
Tail NumberN3159W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGoodman S Flying Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520 · Reciprocating · 285
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 23 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.97 inHg
Observation Time14:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data