What happened
On October 11, 2017, a Cessna 2/06G, registration PT-LSC, departed from an unregistered airstrip at the Crepurizão mine in Itaituba, Pará, for a cargo and passenger transport flight to the São Raimundo mine. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft lost altitude and struck a chestnut tree approximately 6 meters tall, located about 1 km from the runway threshold, before impacting the ground. The impact caused a fire that destroyed the aircraft. The pilot died at the scene, while the passenger sustained serious injuries and was ejected from the aircraft upon impact.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators found that the aircraft was being operated in a manner inconsistent with its registration as a private aircraft, as the pilot was working as a freelancer transporting passengers and cargo to local mining sites. The investigation revealed several critical maintenance and regulatory discrepancies. The aircraft's annual maintenance inspection had been expired since March 2017, rendering it unairworthy. Furthermore, the propeller installed on the aircraft was not the model approved for this specific type, altering the certified technical parameters of the aircraft.
Investigators also noted that the aircraft was significantly overloaded. Based on fuel levels, the weight of the occupants, and the estimated 550kg of cargo, the aircraft was approximately 230kg above its maximum takeoff weight of 1,633kg. Additionally, the cargo, consisting of machinery parts, was reportedly unsecured within the cabin. The investigation was interrupted because the aircraft was being operated in violation of several aviation regulations, and the cargo had been removed from the crash site without authorization from the investigating authority.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating significantly above its maximum allowable weight.
- The pilot's medical certificate had been expired since July 2016.
- The aircraft's annual maintenance inspection was overdue by several months.
- The installed propeller was not approved for the Cessna 206G model.
- The cargo was not properly secured within the cabin.
- The aircraft lacked passenger seats and seatbelts for the occupant.
- The pilot was performing commercial-style operations (freelance mining transport) using a private registration.