What happened
On August 17, 2019, at approximately 12:00 UTC, a Mistral 582C ultralight aircraft, registration PU-CCL, was performing a local private flight at Piraquara Aerodrome (SISY) in Paraná, Brazil. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported hearing a noise and experiencing a sudden leftward yaw. The pilot suspected a left tire failure. Believing it unsafe to continue the takeoff, the pilot reduced power and attempted to steer the aircraft onto the adjacent grass area to decelerate. However, the aircraft veered off the runway and collided with the aerodrome's perimeter wall. The impact triggered a fire in the engine area that spread through much of the aircraft. The pilot sustained serious injuries, while the passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the aircraft, the pilot's credentials, and the aerodrome infrastructure. The pilot held a valid private pilot license and medical certificate, with significant experience in this aircraft type. The aircraft's experimental documentation and maintenance records were all valid, and the aircraft was within its maximum takeoff weight limits.
Investigators noted that the runway pavement was degraded, featuring shallow potholes and encroaching vegetation. A critical finding was the presence of a perimeter wall that obstructed the runway extension. While the aerodrome is private and not subject to certain ANAC construction authorizations, the investigation found that the wall was positioned less than 30 meters from the runway axis, encroaching upon the runway strip and safety zones. Furthermore, there was no Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued to alert pilots to the presence of this wall.
Findings
- The aircraft veered off the runway following an audible noise and a leftward yaw during the takeoff roll.
- The perimeter wall was constructed in a manner that obstructed the runway strip and safety areas.
- The runway pavement was in a degraded condition.
- There was no NOTAM in effect to warn pilots of the perimeter wall obstacle.
- The presence of the perimeter wall within the required safety margins was a primary contributing factor to the severity of the excursion.