What happened
On March 24, 2023, at approximately 21:00 UTC, an Embraer EMB-202 aircraft, registration PT-ULV, crashed while performing agricultural spraying operations near Uberaba, Minas Gerais. The aircraft, operated by Aerocéu Aviação Agrícola Ltda. – ME, had departed from the Pista Mata Verde landing strip earlier that evening to apply pesticides over a sugarcane plantation.
During the second pass of the application, the pilot encountered localized rain and reduced visibility. While maneuvering at low altitude over uneven terrain, the aircraft's right wing struck the canopy of a tree. This initial impact led to a loss of control, causing the aircraft to strike the ground twice with its wingtips before coming to a final rest. The pilot sustained minor injuries, but the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the pilot's credentials, the aircraft's maintenance records, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held valid commercial and agricultural licenses, as well as a valid medical certificate. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was in order, and maintenance logs for the airframe, engine, and propeller were up to be date. The aircraft was also operating within its approved weight and balance limits.
Investigators analyzed the weather reports, noting that while regional forecasts indicated favorable visual meteorological conditions, the pilot reported encountering isolated rain. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight history and the specific challenges of the terrain, which featured significant elevation changes.
Findings
- The pilot's decision-making led to continuing the operation despite degraded visibility caused by localized rain.
- A high motivation to complete the task and reduce the aircraft's weight by finishing the application may have compromised the pilot's critical analysis.
- The pilot's previous experience in similar terrain may have led to overconfidence, causing an underestimation of the risks involved in low-altitude maneuvers.
- The combination of uneven terrain, reduced visibility, and environmental stimuli likely caused a loss of situational awareness and an overload of sensory inputs, preventing a timely response to the approaching obstacle.