What happened
On October 6, 2015, a Neiva EMB-721C, registration PT-RAM, departed from the Fazenda Guanabara Aerodrome (SSFG) in Corumbá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The flight was intended to transport personnel to Campo Grande. Shortly after takeoff from runway 30, the aircraft began drifting left of the runway centerline.
The pilot attempted to recover the aircraft's position, but was unable to maintain controlled flight. Facing an imminent loss of control, the pilot executed a forced landing into the adjacent forest. During the impact, the left wing struck a tree, causing the wing to separate from the fuselage. This impact led to a fuel leak and a subsequent post-crash fire. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident. Of the three people on board, one passenger sustained fatal injuries, while the pilot and the second passenger suffered minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot held valid medical and flight qualifications, and the aircraft possessed a valid Certificate of Airworthiness. The aircraft was operating within its weight and balance limits. While the pilot reported no engine or system failures, investigators were unable to perform a detailed maintenance analysis because the aircraft's logbooks and maintenance records were not presented during the inquiry.
Meteorological data and reports from a Brazilian Air Force search and rescue crew indicated that the area was experiencing significant wind gusts on the day of the accident. The investigation also considered the operational environment, noting that the takeoff occurred from a grass runway at an elevation of approximately 500 feet, with ambient temperatures between 26°C and 30°C.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered a strong crosswind during takeoff, which caused significant difficulty in maintaining directional control.
- The pilot's relatively limited experience, with 208 total flight hours and 170 hours in this specific model, may have been a factor in managing the challenging conditions.
- The combination of high density altitude, a grass runway surface, and intense crosswinds likely contributed to the loss of control.
- The investigation noted that the pilot's decision-making and application of flight controls during the critical takeoff phase could not be definitively determined, but were contributing factors to the outcome.