Fatal Agricultural Aircraft Accident in Mato Grosso Linked to High-Pitch Maneuvers

Casualties unknown • VERA, MT, BR

An Air Tractor AT-502A crashed during an aerial spraying operation in Brazil, resulting in the death of the pilot after the aircraft likely entered a spin.

What happened

On November 18, 2022, an AT-502A aircraft, registration PP-OBL, crashed into dense vegetation in the municipality of Vera, Mato Grosso, during an agricultural crop-spraying mission. The aircraft took off from the Fazenda Araçatuba airstrip at approximately 17:55 UTC for a repositioning maneuver. During the execution of a reversal turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which subsequently struck treetops and impacted the ground at a steep angle. The impact was severe enough to bury the powerplant in the ground and leave the fuselage in an upside-down position. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.

The investigation

CENIPA investigators analyzed data from the aircraft's AG-NAV Guia Real-Time Navigation Guidance System, which provided critical details regarding the flight path and maneuvers. The investigation established that the aircraft was configured with flaps at a 10° extension and was operating within its weight and balance limits. Meteorological conditions were favorable for VFR flight, though some towering cumulus clouds were present in the area.

Physical evidence from the wreckage, including marks on tree bark and the state of the propeller, indicated the engine was producing power at the moment of impact. Investigators noted that the last five reversal turns in the northeastern sector of the spraying circuit involved much steeper climb attitudes—exceeding 30°—compared to turns in the southwestern sector. This difference in maneuver execution resulted in shorter longitudinal distances for the turns in the northeast sector.

Findings

  • The use of steeper pitch attitudes (greater than 30°) during the climbing stage of the final reversal turns reduced the aircraft's airspeed to levels near its stall speed.
  • This reduction in speed significantly narrowed the aircraft's controllability margins, making it highly susceptible to a loss of lift or an inadvertent entry into a spin.
  • The pilot's decision to adopt these steeper angles may have been motivated by a desire to increase operational efficiency by reducing the time spent in turns.
  • The investigation could not determine if the pilot recognized the onset of a spin or attempted recovery maneuvers before the collision.

Probable cause

The accident was likely caused by the use of excessive pitch attitudes during reversal turns, which reduced the aircraft's airspeed to near-stall conditions and led to an inadvertent spin and subsequent loss of control.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2022-11-18 aircraft accident near VERA, MT, BR?

An Air Tractor AT-502A crashed during an aerial spraying operation in Brazil, resulting in the death of the pilot after the aircraft likely entered a spin.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2022-11-18 involved a aircraft, registration PPOBL, at VERA, MT, BR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was likely caused by the use of excessive pitch attitudes during reversal turns, which reduced the aircraft's airspeed to near-stall conditions and led to an inadvertent spin and subsequent loss of control.

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