What happened
On November 6, 2021, an AT-402B agricultural aircraft, registration PR-MGI, was performing its fourth takeoff of the day at the "Ponte Alta" agricultural landing strip in Altair, São Paulo. During the takeoff roll, a car entered the landing area and collided with the aircraft. The pilot attempted to abort the takeoff after spotting the vehicle between 150 and 200 meters into the run, but the aircraft's left wing struck the roof of the car. The impact caused the aircraft to veer to the left side of the strip. Both the pilot and the driver of the vehicle were uninjured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the landing strip layout and the operator's safety management protocols. The investigation found that while the operator, Pachu Aviação Agrácola Ltda., utilized a Safety Management System (SMS) that identified the intersection of a service road with the strip as a known risk, the physical mitigation measures were inadequate. One side of the intersection was blocked with cones and chains, but the side from which the vehicle entered was marked only with two cones, which proved insufficient to stop drivers unaware of the ongoing flight operations.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed a topographical issue: a 5-meter (16 ft) elevation change in the strip's profile, combined with nearby crops, created blind spots. This prevented both the pilot and the driver from seeing each other in time to avoid the collision. The investigation also noted that the operator's area bulletins did not account for how these vertical profile variations affected visibility.
Findings
- The insufficient signaling and inadequate physical barriers on the service road allowed the vehicle to enter the active runway.
- A significant elevation change and surrounding vegetation obstructed the line of sight between the aircraft and the vehicle.
- The pilot was fully qualified and the aircraft was in a valid airworthy condition.
- The operator's safety documentation identified the road crossing as a risk, but the implemented mitigation was ineffective.