What happened
On July 2, 2016, a Cessna 182E, registration PT-DJH, was conducting a skydiving operation departing from Brigadeiro Protásio de Oliveira Airport (SBJC) in Belém, Brazil. The flight carried one pilot and four passengers. After the first skydiver exited the aircraft at flight level 045, the aircraft continued to climb and leveled off at FL085. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft disappeared from radar tracking.
At approximately 16:2/UTC, witnesses observed the aircraft falling toward the ground without its wings. The aircraft impacted the grounds of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) facility. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of the pilot and three remaining passengers. One skydiver, who had jumped earlier, survived.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the structural integrity of the aircraft and the operational legality of the flight. Investigators found that the aircraft had been operating in a configuration that was not approved, specifically lacking passenger seats. Furthermore, maintenance records for the airframe, engine, and propeller were outdated, and several repairs from a previous 2012 accident had not been documented in the aircraft's logs.
Technical analysis of the wreckage revealed that the fractures in the wing structure were caused by an applied overload. There were no signs of corrosion or fatigue in the analyzed materials. The investigation also uncovered significant regulatory violations, including the fact that the pilot was using another individual's ANAC identification code to file the flight plan and lacked the specific qualification required for skydive operations.
Findings
- The aircraft exceeded its Maximum Maneuvering Speed (Va), likely also exceeding its maximum structural cruise speed.
- The structural failure was caused by an overload resulting from abrupt control inputs or maneuvers at excessive speeds.
- The operator's organizational culture was deficient, permitting the use of an aircraft not included in its approved operational specifications and employing an unqualified pilot.
- The pilot lacked the necessary parachute deployment qualification (LPQD) and failed to conduct essential safety briefings for the passengers.
- There was evidence of flight indiscipline, as the pilot used a different pilot's credentials to conduct the operation.