What happened
On January 17, 2020, an Air Tractor AT-402B, registered as PR-ASN, was performing a ferry flight between two agricultural landing strips in Mato Grosso, Brazil. The aircraft departed from Fazenda Planalto, in Itiquira, destined for Fazenda Pontal, in Guiratinga. Upon arrival at the destination, the pilot noted two other aircraft on the runway and notified ground coordination that he would wait in the northern sector for them to depart.
According to witnesses on the ground, the aircraft performed a low pass over the runway. Following this pass, the pilot attempted an abrupt ascent with a high angle of pitch, followed by a roll that placed the aircraft in an inverted position. During this maneuver, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which entered a stall. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground in a vertical impact trajectory with the wings level. The accident resulted in one fatality and substantial damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified, holding valid commercial licenses for single-engine land and agricultural operations, as well as a valid medical certificate. The aircraft was also found to be in an airworthy condition, with all maintenance logs up to date and operating within proper weight and balance limits. Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable for flight.
Investigators focused on the aircraft's operational limitations. The Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) for the Air Tractor AT-402B explicitly states that acrobatic maneuvers, including spins, are not approved for this model. By performing a maneuver that involved intentional changes in altitude and attitude not required for normal flight, the pilot engaged in unauthorized aerobatics.
Findings
- The pilot attempted an unauthorized acrobatic maneuver involving a high-pitch ascent and a roll into an inverted position.
- The aircraft entered a stall during the maneuver, leading to a loss of control.
- The pilot failed to adhere to the operational limitations established in the aircraft's Airplane Flight Manual (AFM).
- The impact with the ground occurred in a vertical trajectory with the wings level.