What happened
On January 22, 2012, a Piper PA-30, registration PT-DHU, was conducting an IFR instrument flight training mission. The flight originated from Juiz de For to Rio de Janeiro, with an instructor, two students, and one passenger on board. After an initial stop at Santos Dumont Airport (SBRJ), where the passenger disembarked, the aircraft proceeded to Maricá (SDMC) and then toward Jacarepaguá (SBJR).
During the final approach to runway 02 at SBJR, the pilot notified the tower that the landing gear was down and locked. Although air traffic control advised the pilot to land on runway 20, the pilot elected to continue the approach for runway 02, judging the wind conditions to be calm (190/04kt). The aircraft landed near the middle of the runway. Upon applying maximum braking, the left landing gear tire burst, causing the aircraft to skid and veer off the left side of the runway near the threshold of runway 20. The aircraft sustained considerable damage, but the pilot and the two students remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation established that the crew was operating without the necessary IFR approach charts for Santos Dumont Airport (SBRJ) on board, having relied on vectors from Rio Control for that portion of the flight. The investigation also confirmed the pilot was fully qualified with 3,000 total flight hours and held valid medical and technical certifications.