What happened
On January 25, 2024, a Cessna 150E, registration PT-BXF, was conducting a flight training mission from Caruaru (SNRU) to Campina Grande (SBKG). During the return leg of the flight, the instructor decided to divert to the private Aeródromo Severino Farias (SJH2) in Vertentes, Pernambuco, due to deteriorating weather conditions involving convective activity and heavy rain.
Upon landing on runway 11, the pilot reported that the aircraft failed to decelerate as expected despite the application of brakes. Because the aircraft was experiencing a lack of deceleration, the pilot attempted to maneuver the aircraft toward the left edge of the runway, believing that the presence of grass and pebbles on the shoulder would assist in braking. During this maneuver, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which veered off the runway and struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. Both occupants, the instructor and the student, were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the operational history of the flight school and the conditions of the aerodrome. The investigation confirmed that the crew was properly licensed and that the aircraft was airworthy and within weight and balance limits.
Investigators noted that the crew had no prior experience operating at SJH2. Meteorological analysis revealed significant weather activity in the area, including cumulonimbus clouds and potential turbulence. Furthermore, physical inspection of the site the following morning revealed that the runway surface was wet and slippery. The investigation also assessed the flight school's Safety Management System (SMS) regarding its ability to identify hazards related to weather and uncertified aerodromes.
Findings
- Pilot judgment and decision-making processes regarding the use of the runway shoulder to decelerate.
- Aerodrome infrastructure, specifically the inadequate and unsafe condition of the runway surface and its edges.
- Ineffective operational risk management regarding the use of unfamiliar aerodromes during adverse weather conditions.