What happened
On July 12, 2021, at approximately 16:10 UTC, a glider tow operation was underway at the Bebedouro Aerodrome in São Paulo, Brazil. The IPE-02B glider, registration PP-FJZ, was being towed by an Aero Boero AB-180 aircraft, registration PP-GAP, for a local instructional flight. The crew consisted of a flight instructor, a student pilot, and a tow pilot.
Shortly after takeoff, the tow aircraft began a left turn at an altitude of approximately 30 meters to clear the runway axis, as per the flight club's operating manual. At an altitude of about 45 meters, the tow pilot experienced a sudden upward pull on the tail and a significant drop in airspeed, which he attributed to the glider's position. Fearing an unstable flight condition, the tow pilot executed an emergency disconnection of the tow cable.
Following the release, the glider initially traded airspeed for altitude, climbing to 73 meters. However, the instructor initiated a left turn during this phase. This maneuver caused the glider to stall and enter a rapid descent. The IPE-02B struck the ground near the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the glider. The instructor and the student pilot sustained serious injuries, while the tow pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation examined the flight club's operational manuals, training records, and the regulatory compliance of the participants. Investigators reviewed the student's progress, noting that previous flight sessions had recorded deficient performance in takeoff and towing maneuvers, yet the student was permitted to continue the course.
Furthermore, the investigation identified a regulatory discrepancy regarding the student's age. At the time of the accident, the student was 14 years old, which did not meet the minimum age requirement of 18 for a student pilot license under the regulations in effect at the time, despite having parental authorization. The investigation also analyzed the tow pilot's recent experience, noting he had only performed 36 tow operations in the ten days prior to the accident.
Findings
- The decision to initiate a left turn while the glider was losing airspeed was the primary factor leading to the stall.
- Inadequate supervision of the student's instructional progress, as previous poor performance grades were not used to trigger remedial training.
- Non-compliance with regulatory age requirements for the student pilot.
- A culture of low adherence to established regulations within the organization.
- The tow pilot's recent experience in towing operations.