What happened
On May 27, 2019, a Piper PA-2-180, registration PT-KLO, departed from Salvador, Bahia, bound for Maceió, Alagoas. The flight was being conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to transport one pilot and two passengers. Approximately 80 minutes into the flight, while operating near Aracaju, Sergipe, the aircraft entered an area of severe weather characterized by low cloud layers, heavy precipitation, and atmospheric instability associated with Towering Cumulus (TCU) clouds. During this period, the aircraft lost radio contact with Aracaju Approach. Shortly after, components of the aircraft detached in flight, leading to a total loss of control and the subsequent crash into a mangrove area in Porto do Mato, Estância. The impact resulted in three fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the wreckage and the flight's operational context. The investigation established that the aircraft's engine showed no signs of malfunction prior to the structural failure. However, the wreckage pattern indicated that parts of the aircraft had separated in a linear fashion leading to the main impact site. The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making regarding weather avoidance and the aircraft's structural limits when encountering turbulence. The pilot held a Private Pilot license but lacked the necessary Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) rating required for the deteriorating meteorological conditions encountered during the flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the exceedance of the aircraft's positive load factor limits, likely caused by abrupt control inputs while attempting to maintain control during severe turbulence.
- The pilot's decision to continue the flight into areas with heavy precipitation and unstable atmospheric conditions, despite being restricted to VFR, significantly increased the risk.
- Inadequate flight planning was noted, as the pilot failed to properly assess the route's weather risks relative to the aircraft's capabilities.
- The pilot's decision-making was influenced by the desire to reach the destination on schedule, potentially due to the passengers' commitments, which led to a diminished level of situational awareness.
- The pilot's lack of instrument rating (IFRA) contributed to difficulties in interpreting the aircraft's attitude while flying through heavy clouds and turbulence.