What happened
On April 12, 2024, at approximately 20:00 UTC, a Caproni Vizzola glider, registration PT-PEK, was performing a towed takeoff at the Bahiagliding airfield (SWEB) in Formosa do Rio Preto, Bahia. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft's right wing struck the ground, causing a loss of control. The impact triggered a pivot motion driven by the tow plane's traction, eventually resulting in the glider flipping onto its back. The accident caused substantial damage to the aircraft and resulted in one fatality.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation into the accident revealed several critical irregularities regarding both personnel and equipment. The pilot of the glider was flying with an expired medical certificate, which had been invalid since December 202 and was not qualified for the flight. Additionally, this was the pilot's first operation with this specific aircraft model, having acquired it only one week prior to the accident.
The investigation also found significant maintenance and airworthiness issues. The glider, PT-PEK, had an expired Airworthiness Certificate (CVA) dating back to April 2008, and no maintenance records or airframe logs were available for review. The tow aircraft, a Piper Aircraft registered as PT-ZBE, lacked any presented documentation regarding maintenance, insurance, or airworthiness.
Regarding the airfield, investigators noted that the runway surface was degraded by overgrown vegetation, which had reduced the effective runway width from 20 meters to between 8 and 10 meters. Given that the wingspan of the PT-PEK is 20.38 meters, a significant portion of the wings was operating outside the cleared area.
Findings
- The degraded airfield infrastructure contributed to the accident, as the narrowed runway width left the wings vulnerable to ground contact.
- Dust clouds generated by the tow aircraft during the takeoff roll reduced the glider pilot's visibility.
- The reduction in visibility may have led to impaired perception of the aircraft's bank angle, contributing to the wing strike.
- The glider pilot was flying with an expired medical certificate and was not qualified for the flight.
- The aircraft's airworthiness certificate had been expired for over 15 years.