What happened
On February 8, 2013, a private Cirrus SR2 and registration PR-CEO was conducting a transport flight from Rio Verde to Porangatu, Brazil. During the flight, the pilot encountered adverse meteorological conditions, including the presence of embedded cumulonimbus clouds. Seeking to avoid the weather, the pilot decided to perform a precautionary landing at the Ceres airfield (SWCZ).
At the time of the incident, the Ceres airfield was officially closed to operations due to a NOTAM, and signage was in place indicating the runway was impracticable. The pilot initially attempted to land on runway 15 but aborted the approach due to vegetation obstructing the threshold. The pilot then opted for a second approach on runway 33, utilizing a headwind component. To avoid the deteriorated portion of the runway, the pilot attempted a very low approach to touchdown as short as possible. However, the aircraft began to sink during the descent, and despite an application of power, the aircraft touched down approximately 60 meters before the runway threshold, resulting in a loss of control on the ground. All four occupants—the pilot and three passengers—remained uninjured, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the pilot made several critical errors in judgment and flight planning. The investigation found that the pilot bypassed nearby airports, such as Brasília and Goiânia, which were operating under favorable visual conditions, in favor of the closed airfield in Ceres. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the aircraft's Airworthiness Certificate had been expired since November 28, 2012. It was noted that the pilot likely avoided landing at controlled airfields to prevent the expired documentation from being identified by authorities.
Findings
- Improper flight planning regarding weather conditions and destination suitability.
- Landing at an unserviceable airfield that was officially closed to traffic.
- Operating an aircraft with an expired Airworthiness Certificate.
- Poor decision-making regarding the choice of landing runway and approach profile.
- Presence of adverse weather, including embedded cumulonimbus clouds, along the route.