What happened
On April 21, 2010, a CAP-4 aircraft, registration PP-RTO, departed from the Encanta Moça Aerodrome in Pernambuco, Brazil, for a scenic flight. The flight was intended to travel to the São Luiz Distillery aerodrome. The aircraft was operated by a flight school and carried a pilot and one passenger.
Shortly after takeoff from runway 16, the pilot observed that the aircraft was failing to achieve an adequate rate of climb. Due to the presence of buildings and obstacles at the end of the runway, the pilot executed a right-hand turn to avoid these obstructions. During this maneuver, the aircraft lost lift and entered a stall. The aircraft subsequently struck trees in a nearby mangrove area. Both occupants survived the impact without injuries, though the aircraft sustained significant damage to the engine mount, propeller, and the leading edge of the right wing.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making and the aircraft's performance. Investigators noted that while the pilot was highly experienced and properly licensed, the decision to use runway 16—which had known obstacles—was problematic. The ROTAER indicated that runway 34 was the preferred direction for takeoff to avoid such obstructions.
Technical analysis of the engine components, including the magnetos and carburetor, showed no mechanical failures. However, investigators found that the aircraft's maintenance logs were outdated and that the propeller replacement had not been properly documented in the aircraft's logbooks. The investigation also highlighted an organizational lack of oversight, as the flight school was operating without formal ANAC authorization and lacked a structured system for monitoring pilot performance.