What happened
On the night of 12 March 2013, an EMB 820C aircraft, registration PT-VAQ, departed from Belém (SBBE) for a night-time VFR flight to Monte Dourado (SBMD). The flight was operated by Fretax Táxi-Aéreo and carried a pilot and nine passengers. During the approach to the destination, the aircraft made its final radio contact at 23:18 UTC, reporting its position on the downwind leg for runway 0SB. Shortly after, the aircraft disappeared. The wreckage was located the following morning approximately 5 km from the aerodrome in a dense jungle area. The impact was characterized by a concentrated distribution of wreckage, with the aircraft striking the ground at a 20-degree angle. The crash resulted in 10 fatalities (the pilot and all nine passengers) and the complete destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the loss of control in flight. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history, finding that the engines and propellers were operational at the time of the crash and that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that while he held a valid commercial license and medical certificate, he had limited experience operating this specific aircraft type during night-time operations. The investigation noted that the flight was the pilot's first night-time flight in this aircraft and his first time acting as sole pilot (without a copilot) in this type. The investigation also considered the environmental challenges, specifically the lack of visual ground references due to the remote jungle location and the darkness of the night-time VFR flight.
Findings
- The pilot accepted the inherent risks of conducting a night-time flight in an aircraft type with which he had insufficient experience.
- The pilot's lack of confidence, evidenced by a phone call to his father expressing insecurity, may have negatively impacted his operational performance.
- The pilot likely allowed the aircraft's speed and power to drop below the minimum required for level flight during the downwind leg of the approach.
- Organizational factors within the operator may have contributed to the risk, including an expedited training process and a work organization that allowed for single-pilot night operations in challenging environments.
- The remote location of the aerodrome, surrounded by dense vegetation with poor visual references, hindered the pilot's ability to maintain situational awareness.