What happened
On August 1, 2015, a Cessna 182P, registration PT-KKL, was performing a ferry flight from Feira de Santana (SNJD) to the Aracaju Aeroclube (SNAU) in Sergiade, Brazil. The flight, operated under visual flight rules (VFR), proceeded normally for approximately 65 minutes before the pilot entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 14.
During the approach, the pilot failed to extend the flaps, leading to an unstabilized approach characterized by excessive airspeed and a descent rate outside of recommended parameters. Despite the lack of stability, the pilot continued the landing. The aircraft made a hard touchdown halfway down the runway. Following the initial impact, the aircraft floated, causing the tail to strike the ground and the propeller blades to strike the terrain. During the subsequent landing roll, the left main landing gear failed, and the left wingtip contacted the ground. The aircraft came to a stop within the runway boundaries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the flight parameters and the pilot's configuration of the aircraft. Investigators established that the pilot, while qualified, had limited experience, with only 140 total flight hours and 40 hours in the Cessna 182P model. Notably, while the pilot had operated at SNAU previously as a second-in-command, this was his first landing at the field as the pilot-in-command.
The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was within weight and balance limits and that all required certifications and maintenance records were up to date. The investigation highlighted that the failure to deploy flaps was a critical factor, as it prevented the pilot from achieving a stabilized approach and necessitated a high pitch attitude to manage speed, which contributed to the tail strike.