What happened
On May 16, 2019, at approximately 10:00 UTC, a Neiva EMB-810D, registration PT-VIZ, departed from Aeródromo Fazenda Canaã in Canarana, Mato Grosso, bound for Água Boa. The flight was a private operation intended to transport one pilot and one passenger. Shortly after takeoff, approximately 500 meters from the opposite end of the runway, the aircraft collided with a cornfield. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, though both occupants sustained only minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators determined that the aircraft was in airworthy condition, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and up-to-date maintenance records for the engine, propeller, and airframe. The aircraft was also within its proper weight and balance limits. The pilot held a valid commercial license and multi-engine rating, and although his instrument rating had expired, he was qualified to operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
Environmental conditions were favorable for flight; however, the timing of the takeoff coincided with the period shortly after sunrise. The sun was positioned near the horizon and slightly to the right of the aircraft's heading. The investigation established that the pilot experienced difficulty maintaining visual references due to the sun's position. After retracting the landing gear, the pilot became uncertain of the aircraft's attitude and suspected a slight bank. While attempting to correct the attitude and scanning the surroundings to verify altitude gain, the pilot failed to realize the aircraft was no longer in a climb.
Findings
- Loss of situational awareness during post-takeoff procedures.
- Improper application of flight controls.
- Failure in perception and attention regarding the aircraft's flight path.
- Visual impairment caused by the sun's position near the horizon.