What happened
On February 1, 2014, at approximately 12:20 UTC, an Embraer EMB-711A, registration PT-NQQ, was performing a private flight from Santo Antônio do Leverger to Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso. During the climb phase, the pilot was instructed by Cuiabá Approach to fly on a heading of 180 degrees. Due to persistent difficulties in maintaining effective two-way radio communication, the controller instructed the pilot to return and land at the departure airfield in Santo Antônio do Leverger.
While attempting the landing on a drag strip located alongside the MT-456 highway, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft veered off the side of the track and collided with lateral obstacles. The impact caused a 140-degree right yaw, leading to the structural failure of the left main gear truss assembly and the collapse of the nose gear components. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed that the pilot had experienced significant difficulties with radio telephony and standard phraseology throughout his flight training. Flight evaluation records from previous training sessions indicated that instructors had noted the pilot's struggle with communication, navigation, and simultaneous aircraft control, yet these issues were not formally classified as a deficiency in flight performance. Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot's training lacked adequate supervision, with some evaluation forms lacking instructor or coordinator signatures.
Regarding the specific flight, the investigation established that the pilot failed to follow ATC instructions regarding heading and altitude, resulting in a 13-minute delay between the instruction to return and the actual landing. The pilot also failed to implement standard emergency procedures for communication failure, such as activating the specific transponder code. While the pilot initially suspected a landing gear malfunction, investigators determined the gear had been extended via the emergency system and was properly locked in the down position.