What happened
On December 1, 2002, a Cessna C-500, registration PT-LIY, was performing a flight from Goiânia to Marília, Brazil. The flight was part of a long duty day that had begun early that morning in São Paulo. As the aircraft approached Marília, the crew observed a Cumulus Nimbus cloud moving toward the airfield, which had recently caused heavy precipitation, leaving the runway surface wet.
In an attempt to avoid the weather, the crew decided to abbreviate the traffic pattern. This resulted in an unstabilized approach and a long touchdown approximately 750 meters from the runway threshold. Due to the wet conditions and a strong tailwind, the aircraft could not stop within the remaining runway length, overrunning the pavement and coming to rest 143 meters beyond the opposite end. The impact caused severe damage to the aircraft. While the two pilots and two passengers sustained minor injuries, the remaining three passengers were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the decision-making process and the physical conditions at the time of landing. Investigators examined the crew's flight schedule, noting they had been on duty for over 15 hours, with a period of rest taken inside the aircraft itself, which prevented horizontal sleep. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions, specifically the presence of heavy rain and the wet runway, as well as the lack of updated weather information, as the crew had not requested a radio update from the local operator and were relying on reports from a nearby station 100km away.
Findings
- The crew performed an unstabilized approach and failed to execute a go-around despite the high approach speed and long touchdown.
- The decision to abbreviate the traffic pattern due to approaching storm clouds led to an improper landing configuration.
- Potential fatigue was a significant factor, as the crew's rest period was inadequate and their duty day was excessively long.
- The crew lacked precise local meteorological information, having relied on weather data from a distant aerodrome.
- The runway was wet, and the presence of a tailwind contributed to the inability to stop the aircraft.
- There was a lack of effective cockpit coordination regarding the decision to abort the landing.