What happened
On November 22, 2007, an EMB-201A agricultural aircraft, registration PT-UAW, was performing crop dusting operations near the Uruguay River in Itaqui, Rio Grande do Sul. While executing a left-hand reversal turn to reposition for a new spray pass, the aircraft, flying at an altitude of approximately 15 meters, made contact with the water with its left wingtip and left landing gear.
The initial impact caused rapid deceleration, leading to a loss of control. The aircraft subsequently struck the water surface and submerged approximately 15 minutes later. The pilot was able to evacuate the aircraft through the normal exit while it was still floating and escaped without any injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and the operational circumstances of the flight. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's engine was producing power at the time of impact, as evidenced by the deformation of the propeller blades. The pilot, who was highly experienced with 2,000 flight hours in this specific model, reported that the sun's reflection on the river surface may have caused momentary glare, potentially compromising his perception of altitude and bank angle.
Investigators also considered the possibility that the pilot may have simply applied an excessive bank angle during the low-altitude turn, leading to the loss of altitude. The investigation found that the aircraft's maintenance records, including the airworthiness certificate and annual inspections, were all up to date.