What happened
On January 4, 2014, an Air Tractor AT-502B, registration PR-PIC, was conducting a ferry flight from Aeródromo Fazenda Vô Zeca to a landing area at Fazenda Brasília in Mato Grosso, Brazil. During the flight, the pilot encountered rapidly developing weather conditions, including large cumulonimbus clouds, heavy rain, and significant wind gusts.
Unable to maintain visual flight rules (VFR) and lacking instrument flight capabilities, the pilot decided to perform an unplanned landing on an unpired dirt strip at Fazenda São José das Reunidas. The landing area consisted of uncompacted, wet, and slippery earth. During the landing roll, the aircraft drifted to the left and collided with a fence. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, including punctures to the left wing's inner surface and damage to the propeller blades. The pilot escaped the wreckage uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making and flight planning. Investigators confirmed that the meteorological conditions had indeed deteriorated rapidly, with satellite imagery corroborating the development of heavy cloud formations in the area. The investigation noted that while the weather was challenging, it did not constitute an emergency that would have prevented the pilot from seeking a pre-planned alternative airfield.
Analysis revealed that the pilot's high level of experience might have contributed to an overconfidence that influenced the decision to land in an unfamiliar and unverified location. Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot had not established an alternative destination prior to departure, despite having two hours of fuel autonomy remaining at the time the decision to land was made.
Findings
- Inadequate landing site evaluation was the primary factor that made the accident irreversible, as the chosen field's surface was too slippery and uneven for a safe landing.
- Flawed decision-making led to the selection of an unknown area without verifying its performance capabilities.
- Deficient flight planning, specifically the failure to designate alternative aerodromes before departure.
- Potential overconfidence stemming from the pilot's extensive experience in agricultural aviation environments.