What happened
On May 29, 2010, an EMB-201A aircraft, registration PT-GYX, took off from the Usina Coruripe airfield (SNUZ) in Coruripe, Alagoas, to perform agricultural seed-spreading operations. Shortly after departure, the aircraft collided with a metallic meteorological tower located within a sugarcane field. The impact caused a guy wire from the tower to become entangled with the aircraft's right wing and fuselage. The aircraft sustained severe damage and crashed into the field. Although the pilot was located alive by local workers, he succumbed to injuries sustained during the impact while being transported to the hospital.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the collision with the obstacle. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history, finding that the engine and propeller were functioning normally at the time of the accident. The pilot was highly experienced, with 10,000 total flight hours and extensive knowledge of the local area. However, the investigation noted that the pilot had been involved in a similar accident in 2007 involving power lines. Medical records indicated the pilot managed hypertension and obesity, though no specific acute medical event could be definitively proven as the cause. The investigation also reviewed the operational environment, noting the repetitive nature of agricultural flight tasks in the same area.
Findings
- The primary contributing factor was inadequate operational supervision regarding the planning and execution of the flight, particularly given the pilot's history of a similar occurrence.
- The repetitive and monotonous nature of agricultural spraying and seeding operations at low altitudes likely contributed to a loss of concentration and situational awareness.
- A sense of overconfidence or invulnerability, stemming from long-term familiarity with the area, may have reduced the pilot's ability to critically analyze risks.
- The pilot may have experienced a failure in perception, failing to recognize the presence of the meteorological tower during the mission.