What happened
On January 12, 2019, at approximately 19:30 UTC, a Piper PA-25-235, registration PR-MJA, was performing aerial agricultural spraying operations at the Santa Rita Farm in Campinas do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. After taking off from the agricultural landing area to spray a soy crop, the pilot executed a right turn followed by a left turn. During this sequence of maneuvers, the aircraft struck the surface of a dam located at the end of the landing area. The impact occurred while the aircraft was turning left at considerable speed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including the loss of the left main landing gear and damage to the wings and fuselage, before submerging in the water. The pilot died at the scene due to drowning.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the flight sequence, the pilot's experience, and the aircraft's maintenance records. Investigators noted that while the pilot held valid licenses and medical certification, he was in his first year of agricultural flight and had only 17 hours of experience in this specific aircraft model. The investigation also identified that the airframe, engine, and propeller logbooks contained outdated records, with some monthly usage entries missing since March 2018. Meteorological conditions were found to be favorable for visual flight, with good visibility and light winds.
Findings
- Overconfidence and impulsiveness: The pilot's actions may have been driven by a state of overconfidence, leading to inappropriate maneuvers such as exhibitionism.
- Impaired judgment: High levels of motivation and enthusiasm regarding his recent performance may have hindered the pilot's ability to accurately assess the risks of low-altitude flight over water.
- Insufficient experience: The pilot's limited experience in agricultural operations and specifically in the PA-25-235 likely negatively influenced his ability to manage the aircraft during the maneuver.
- Maintenance oversight: Inadequate supervision of technical and administrative records was noted, as the aircraft logbooks were not up to date.