What happened
On January 30, 2011, a Cessna 182P, registration PT-KAS, was performing a landing at an unregistered dirt strip located at Fazenda União in Pacajá, Pará. The aircraft, operated privately, was traveling from Araguaína, Tocantins, carrying a pilot and one passenger.
During the landing sequence, the aircraft experienced two successive touchdowns on the runway. Following these contacts, the pilot initiated a go-around. During the climb, the aircraft struck a tree approximately 40 meters tall situated on a hill in the departure path. A subsequent impact with a second tree caused the aircraft to rotate 90 degrees before striking the ground. The impact triggered a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the aircraft. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the flight maneuvers and the operational environment. Investigators noted that the landing strip, measuring 580 meters by 34 meters, was not registered with ANAC and featured a significant depression and hills at the end of the runway.
Technical analysis of the flight profile suggested the pilot may have misjudged the available distance for a successful landing, leading to the decision to go around despite having sufficient runway remaining to stop. The investigation also examined the aircraft's maintenance status, finding that the airworthiness certificate was suspended due to an expired annual inspection. While maintenance records from the service provider were found to be incomplete and lacked necessary documentation, investigators concluded that the engine was producing sufficient power for the climb and that maintenance errors did not directly cause the collision.
Findings
- Flight Indiscipline: The use of an unregistered landing strip exposed the occupants to inherent risks associated with non-standard runway requirements.
- Pilot Judgment: The decision to execute a go-around when there was sufficient runway to land safely indicated an inadequate assessment of the situation.
- Operational Risk: The pilot's known discomfort with the short runway length and the decision to land at a site with significant obstacles contributed to the accident sequence.
Safety action
CENIPA issued several recommendations to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) regarding the maintenance facility involved, specifically calling for audits of their aircraft intake and release processes, and improvements in the accuracy of inspection records. Additionally, a recommendation was made to promote awareness among general aviation operators regarding the necessity of complying with landing strip safety requirements.