What happened
On September 14, 2020, at approximately 20:00 UTC, an Embraer EMB-720D, registration PT-RVU, was performing a private passenger flight from Belém to Altamira, Pará. During the flight, the pilot diverted the aircraft to Anapu, Pará, reportedly because a passenger was feeling unwell.
The landing took place on an unregistered, unpaved landing strip consisting of irregular laterite (piçarra) surface. The aircraft touched down on a heading of 345°, which, due to the slope of the terrain, meant the pilot was landing in a downhill direction. The touchdown occurred in the final third of the available 700-meter landing area. Consequently, the pilot was unable to decelerate the aircraft sufficiently, causing it to overshoot the longitudinal limits of the strip and collide with a perimeter fence. All four occupants—two pilots and two passengers—were unharmed, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that while the pilots held valid commercial licenses and medical certificates, they had no prior landing experience at this specific location. The investigation also noted that although the aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid and it was within weight and balance limits, the aircraft's logbooks for the airframe, engine, and propeller were not up to date.
Investigators analyzed the landing strip's characteristics, noting that local reports suggested landings are typically performed in the opposite direction (heading 165°) to utilize the slope more effectively. The investigation also highlighted a deviation from Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulations (RBAC No. 91), which stipulates that pilots should only use registered aerodromes that are deemed suitable for the intended operation.