What happened
On January 12, 2019, at approximately 11:10 UTC, a Vimana R-12 experimental aircraft, registration PU-BIA, crashed into the ocean near Praia de Águas Belas, Cascavel, Ceará. The flight departed from Aeródromo Catuleve in Aquiraz, destined for Aeródromo da Fazenda Bebida Velha in Rio Grande do Norte. The flight plan intended for a visual flight rules (VFR) operation along the coast at 3,000 feet AGL.
Approximately ten minutes into the flight, the aircraft encountered adverse meteorological conditions. Radar data indicated that the aircraft failed to maintain its planned altitude, instead remaining at approximately 2,000 feet. This altitude was below the cloud base reported in the local METAR (2,300 feet), forcing the aircraft into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Witnesses reported that after passing through weather formations, the aircraft was in a descending attitude until it struck the water approximately 150 meters from the shoreline. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities (the pilot and one passenger).
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making and the aircraft's capabilities. The investigation established that the PU-BIA was an experimental aircraft not certified for instrument flight (IFR). While the pilot held a valid single-engine land rating, they were not rated for IFR operations.
Radar analysis showed that altitude information was lost shortly before radar contact was lost entirely. Investigators examined meteorological data, including satellite imagery and METAR reports, which confirmed the presence of isolated cloud formations and precipitation along the flight path. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting they had approximately 125 total flight hours, with 110 hours in this specific model.
Findings
- Inadequate pilot judgment regarding the risks of continuing flight into deteriorating weather.
- Encounter with adverse meteorological conditions that prevented visual reference.
- The aircraft was not certified for IFR operations, and the pilot was not instrument-rated.
- Potential spatial disorientation caused by the loss of visual references while flying in IMC.
- The aircraft was flying at 2,000 feet, which was below the established cloud base of 2,300 feet.
Safety action
CENIPA issued a recommendation to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to disseminate the lessons learned from this investigation. The goal is to alert Brazilian civil aviation pilots and operators to the extreme risks associated with attempting IMC operations without proper ratings or using aircraft not certified for instrument flight.