Air Tractor AT-400 accident near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, June 2, 1989
On June 2, 1989 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-400, registered N3159W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poplar Bluff, Missouri. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND MISJUDGED THE CLEARANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT'S VERTICAL STABILIZER FROM THE POWER LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1989 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-400
- Registration
- N3159W · no longer on the register · serial 0474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE COMMERCIAL PLT FLEW UNDER POWER LINES. THE NEUTRAL STABILIZER FAILED TO CLEAR THE LINES WHICH CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE EMPENNAGE. THE PLT SAID THE RUDDER WAS INOPERABLE SO HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A STRAIGHT AHEAD EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FARM FIELD. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR AND WINGS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,750 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 4,662 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,755 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1988; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-15AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POF Poplar Bluff MO at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from CGI, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N3159W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.