What happened
On January 25, 2021, a Piper PA-34-220T, registration PT-OXQ, was performing a private flight from Toledo, Paraná, to Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná. The aircraft, carrying a pilot and three passengers, was executing a visual approach to Estância Hércules Aerodrome (SSFE) under deteriorating weather conditions, including light rain and mist.
During the final approach, the pilot attempted to land near the beginning of the runway to maximize available distance. To avoid trees at the edge of the aerodrome, the pilot performed an abrupt pitch-up maneuver. This maneuver, combined with low power settings, resulted in a loss of lift and a high-energy impact with the runway. The aircraft struck the ground with significant force on the right side, causing the propeller to contact the pavement. This impact led to the collapse of the right main landing gear, causing the aircraft to veer right, exit the runway, and collide with a soybean field.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed several critical discrepancies regarding the aircraft's operational data and the aerodrome's documentation. Investigators found that the aircraft's weight and balance records were unreliable; the weight listed in the operator's records significantly differed from the manufacturer's manual, and the maintenance organization responsible for the last weighing was suspended. Consequently, the aircraft was likely operating above its maximum allowable landing weight.
Furthermore, the investigation identified errors in the aerodrome's protection zone documentation (PBZPA), which contained incorrect runway headings and inaccurate runway length measurements. The investigation also noted that the pilot was performing his first landing at this specific location and failed to account for the degraded weather and the aircraft's weight limitations during flight planning.