What happened
On March 11, 2019, an A188B aircraft, registration PR-RVO, was conducting a fungicide application flight over a soybean plantation in a rural area of Rio Pardo, Rio Grande do Sul. The flight, operated by Nitz Aviação Agrícola Ltd., departed from the Santa Isabel Farm landing area at approximately 09:30 UTC.
During an application maneuver, the aircraft struck a tree located within the spraying range. The impact caused the right wing to separate from the fuselage. Following the initial collision, the aircraft struck the ground, causing the engine to detach from the airframe. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries at the scene.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage, engine, and propeller, finding no evidence of mechanical failure. The propeller blades showed deformation consistent with the engine producing power at the moment of impact, and flight data from the DGPS confirmed the aircraft was following the expected flight profile. The pilot was found to be highly experienced, with over 1,000 total flight hours and significant time in this specific aircraft model.
Investigators also analyzed environmental and physiological factors. While the pilot had taken medication for allergy symptoms the previous night, the investigation concluded the effects of the drug were unlikely to have impaired performance ten hours later. However, the investigation focused on the sun's position and the visibility conditions during the maneuver.
Findings
- Sun glare significantly compromised visibility ahead of the aircraft. At the time of the accident, the sun was at a very low elevation (6°), and its position directly in the pilot's field of view caused glare that prevented the timely identification of the obstacle.
- The tree involved in the collision had less dense foliage than other trees in the area, which may have made it harder to detect.
- Inadequate flight planning failed to account for natural factors, specifically the impact of sunlight position and luminosity on visibility during the intended application window.
- Potential managerial oversight regarding the supervision of operational risk management and flight preparation processes.