What happened
On July 12, 2018, at approximately 10:50 UTC, a midair collision occurred at the Aeroclube de Itápolis (SDIO) in São Paulo, Brazil. The accident involved two aircraft: a Cessna 152, registration PR-EJK, carrying an instructor and a student pilot, and a Cessna 150M, registration PR-JEA, operated by a solo student pilot.
Both aircraft were performing local flight training under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The collision took place during the fourth circuit of the day, specifically at the threshold of runway 19. The impact caused substantial damage to both airframes, including severe wing deformation and engine damage. Despite the severity of the impact, the three crew members involved sustained only minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the flight sequences and the operational environment at the aerodrome. Investigators found that the aerodrome lacked Air Traffic Services (ATS) and that communications were being conducted on an unapproved frequency (131.65 MHz) rather than the required monitoring frequency (123.45 MHz).
The investigation also examined the organizational culture of the flight schools involved. It was noted that while safety reports (RELPREV) had been filed regarding previous traffic conflicts at the aerodrome, these reports had not led to effective mitigation strategies. Furthermore, the investigation identified a lack of standardized phraseology and a failure in ground-based supervision during the solo flight operation.