What happened
On October 8, 2016, at approximately 12:15 UTC, a Piper PA-25-260, registration PT-DJT, was conducting an agricultural spraying mission over a banana plantation in Juquiá, São Paulo. The aircraft had departed from an uncertified landing strip in Biguá to apply pesticides. After approximately 15 minutes of flight, while performing a spraying pass parallel to a transmission line, the aircraft struck electrical power lines. The impact caused the pilot to lose control, leading to a subsequent collision with the plantation floor.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the pilot was highly experienced, with 16,000 total flight hours, including 3,300 hours in the specific aircraft model. The aircraft was airworthy, with all maintenance logs up to date, and was operating within its specified weight and balance limits. Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable for flight.
However, the investigation revealed significant deficiencies in flight planning and situational awareness. The operator's flight plan only specified the target area and the materials to be used, failing to identify or document the height of obstacles in the area. Furthermore, the pilot did not perform a prior reconnaissance flight of the plantation, which was characterized by uneven terrain and the presence of high-voltage lines. While the lines were marked, the pilot failed to perceive them during the maneuver.
Findings
- Lack of obstacle identification in the flight planning process.
- Failure to perform a reconnaissance flight to assess terrain and obstacles.
- Inadequate situational awareness regarding the proximity of the power lines.
- Deficiencies in managerial supervision regarding flight planning and safety oversight.