What happened
On April 14, 2022, at approximately 10:30 UTC, a Cessna A188B, registration PR-AAM, was engaged in aero-agricultural operations at Fazenda Letícia in Mineiros, Goiás. The aircraft was performing a crop-dusting mission, having taken off from a local airstrip for its first flight of the day.
During the flight, the aircraft was executing its tenth repositioning turn. DGPS data indicates that the aircraft's trajectory deviated during this maneuver, following a path that opened approximately 45 degrees to the left before turning right. During this turn, the aircraft's speed was noted to be lower than in previous maneuvers. The aircraft subsequently collided with treetops and struck the ground, sustaining substantial damage, including the separation of the propeller assembly, engine shaft, and left-hand wing from the fuselage. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's flight experience, and meteorological conditions. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid and that maintenance logs for the airframe, engine, and propeller were up to date. The meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were well within the minimum requirements for agricultural operations.
Investigators analyzed DGPS data to reconstruct the flight path and compared the aircraft's speed and bank angle against the manufacturer's stall speed tables. While the recorded speed was above the estimated stall speed for a 45-degree bank, investigators could not rule out a higher bank angle that might have induced a stall and subsequent loss of control.
Findings
- Alcohol consumption was identified as a major contributing factor, as a forensic report indicated the pilot's blood alcohol level was 12.8 dg/L. This level of ethanol is known to cause significant impairment, including slowed reflexes and deteriorated control over voluntary movements.
- The precise handling of the flight controls during the repositioning turn remains undetermined, though a loss of control is a primary hypothesis.
- The aircraft was operating in a specialized agricultural category and was equipped with an engine modified for ethanol use, though investigators noted the absence of required identification plates on the instrument panel and fuel nozzle.