What happened
On January 23, 2013, a Cirrus SR2 em flight from Londrina, Paraná, was performing a landing at the aerodrome in Luiz Eduardo Magalhães, Bahia. The aircraft, carrying a pilot and two passengers, was on final approach after crossing runway 10. During the landing phase, the aircraft encountered a strong right-side crosswind gust that caused a sudden loss of control. The aircraft drifted to the left, causing the left wingtip to strike the ground, followed by the propeller and the right wing. The aircraft eventually came to a stop 80 meters from the left side of the runway. All three occupants remained uninjured, though the aircraft sustained structural damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the meteorological conditions and the flight sequence. The pilot reported that the windsock indicated significant variations in wind direction with intensities of approximately 18 knots, and that cumulonimbus (CB) clouds were present near the aerodrome. Meteorological analysis confirmed that conditions at the time were unfavorable for flight, characterized by the presence of cumulonimbus (CB) and towering cumulus (TCU) clouds with significant vertical development and strong thermal convection. The analysis established that turbulence, along with updrafts and downdrafts, was present near the surface, creating intense low-level wind gusts.
Findings
- The pilot was properly qualified and held valid medical and technical certifications.
- The aircraft, registration PR-SFS, was airworthy and within weight and balance limits.
- The primary cause of the accident was the impact of a strong wind shear event during the final approach.
- The presence of convective activity and significant vertical cloud development created hazardous low-level wind gusts and turbulence.