What happened
On April 6, 2020, at approximately 09:30 UTC, a Piper PA-25-235 performing agricultural spraying operations crashed in Nova Mutum, Mato Grosso. The aircraft, registered as PT-WUH, had departed from a landing strip at Fazenda Bom Princípio to apply pesticides over a cornfield.
During the fourth pass of the application process, the aircraft struck the shield wires of a high-voltage power transmission line. The impact was severe enough to bring down the transmission towers. Following the collision, the aircraft entered a clockwise longitudinal roll and impacted the ground, subsequently catching fire. The pilot managed to escape the wreckage before the fire consumed the cockpit and the right wing, but sustained serious injuries, including significant head trauma and vision impairment.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed and held valid medical and agricultural ratings. The aircraft was also in compliance with airworthiness requirements, with all maintenance logs up to date, and was within weight and balance limits.
The investigation established that the pilot had performed prior aerial and ground reconnaissance and was explicitly aware of the high-voltage lines, as documented in the company's operational report. Investigators also reviewed footage of the accident, which showed the aircraft diving into the wires.
Furthermore, the investigation looked into the regulatory status of the operation. While the operator held a valid Air Operator Certificate (COA), the aircraft was registered under a private category (TPP) and was being used for remunerated agricultural services, which presented a lack of adherence to safety operational principles regarding the aircraft's operational specifications. Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilot was not wearing corrective lenses, as required by his medical certificate, at the time of the accident.