What happened
On April 21, 2017, at approximately 15:00 UTC, a Cessna T206H, registration PR-SSJ, was conducting a religious mission from an unregistered landing site in an indigenous village to Itaituba, Pará. The flight, operated by Associaçao Suico B.B. de Apoio na Amazonia, carried one pilot and three passengers.
During the flight, the pilot encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions near the destination. Due to the lack of visibility and concerns regarding the flight path, the pilot decided to divert to an unregistered airstrip at Fazenda Santa Tereza. During the final approach to this strip, the aircraft struck an electrical power line, causing the pilot to lose control and resulting in a collision with the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot sustained serious injuries, two passengers sustained minor injuries, and one passenger remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that while the pilot held a valid medical certificate and single-engine land rating, and the aircraft held a valid airworthiness certificate, several operational irregularities were present. The aircraft's engine, propeller, and airframe logbooks had not been updated. Furthermore, the flight originated from a non-homologated landing site.
The investigation examined the pilot's decision-making process regarding the diversion. Although the aircraft had sufficient fuel to reach an alternative airport, the pilot chose the unregistered strip. The investigation also noted that a new power line had been installed near the runway head approximately three months prior, a change unknown to the pilot.
Findings
- The pilot's complacency due to previous successful operations at non-homologated sites influenced the decision-making process.
- A lack of familiarity with the specific landing site and the recent installation of electrical infrastructure prevented the pilot from identifying the hazard.
- The pilot's decision to land at the unregistered strip, despite having sufficient fuel for an alternative, was characterized as flight indiscipline.
- Adverse weather conditions and reduced visibility contributed to the pressure to land quickly, impairing risk assessment.