What happened
On August 14, 2006, an EMB 711B, registration PT-NRR, was performing a VFR flight from Aeródromo Júlio César, PA, to Curralinho, PA. Although the flight plan listed Curralinho as the destination, the pilot actually intended to land at an uncertified landing strip located at Serraria Lima.
Upon approaching the uncertified strip, the pilot encountered a tree approximately two meters tall near the threshold of runway 07. To avoid the obstacle, the pilot performed a maneuver that resulted in the aircraft touching down 80 meters past the runway threshold. During the landing roll, the left wing struck medium-sized vegetation, causing the aircraft to veer 45 degrees to the left and slide into an embankment. All four occupants—the pilot and three passengers—remained uninjured, but the aircraft sustained severe structural damage to the wing-to-fuselage junctions, landing gear, and spars.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the pilot was aware of the poor operational conditions of the Serraria Lima strip, noting that high grass required extra caution. The investigation also revealed that while the aircraft was registered under the Private Air Service (TPP) category, there was evidence suggesting the flight was actually an unauthorized charter operation. Furthermore, the aircraft's maintenance logs were outdated, and the 50-hour inspection was overdue.
Findings
- Flight indiscipline: The pilot violated the Brazilian Aeronautical Code by planning a flight to an unregistered and uncertified landing strip that lacked minimum safety standards.
- Environmental factors: The presence of vegetation near the runway threshold and an embankment on the left side of the strip contributed to the loss of control.
- Inadequate flight planning: The pilot failed to properly assess the risks of operating at a site with known critical safety deficiencies and provided an inaccurate flight plan to avoid regulatory scrutiny.
- Poor pilot judgment: Despite recognizing the unsatisfactory landing conditions, the pilot continued the approach rather than diverting to an alternative airport.