What happened
On April 6, 2014, an EMB-720D aircraft, registration PT-ROS, departed from the Aripuanã aerodrome in Mato Grosso, Brazil, bound for Fazenda Vespor. The flight, which included the pilot and three passengers, was conducted without a flight plan under visual flight rules (VFR).
The aircraft failed to reach its destination. Search efforts located the wreckage the following day on an elevation at Fazenda Triângulo. The impact occurred in dense, high vegetation, where the aircraft struck the treetops. The force of the collision caused the left wing to be severed and the fuselage to impact the ground, leading to a post-crash fire that consumed much of the wreckage. All four fatalities occurred at the scene.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage, meteorological data, and the pilot's flight history. The investigation established that while the pilot was an experienced aviator with significant flight hours, he did not hold an instrument rating (IFRA).
Meteorological reports from the area indicated highly restricted visibility due to heavy fog, making visual flight conditions unfavorable. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the Aripuanã aerodrome had been officially canceled since late 2012. GPS data showed the aircraft was traveling at approximately 118 knots at the time of impact, maintaining an ascending trajectory through the trees.
Findings
- Inadequate risk assessment: The pilot attempted to operate under VFR in weather conditions that necessitated instrument flight rules (IFR), for which he was not trained.
- Poor decision-making: The pilot chose to fly at an altitude below the minimum safety requirements for the terrain, failing to maintain sufficient clearance from obstacles.
- Adverse weather: Heavy fog and low cloud ceilings significantly reduced visibility, preventing the pilot from identifying obstacles in time to avoid them.
- Flight indiscipline: The flight originated from a canceled aerodrome and proceeded without proper flight planning or altitude considerations relative to the local terrain elevations.