What happened
On November 21, 2023, a Cessna 152, registration PR-VJO, was conducting a flight instruction mission from Cuiabá to Santo Antônio do Leverger, Mato Grosso. The flight, operated by Fly Eagle Escola de Aviação Civil, involved an instructor and a student pilot performing navigation and touch-and-go landing training.
During the fourth touch-and-go maneuver at the Santo Antônio do Leverger aerodrome, the instructor decided to simulate an engine failure at approximately 100 feet. This maneuver required a return to the runway for a landing. Following the touchdown, the aircraft continued down the runway, crossed the threshold of the opposite end, and veered off to the right side of the runway, where it subsequently capsized. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but both occupants escaped uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the flight parameters, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the pilot's decision-making process. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, within weight and balance limits, and that both pilots held valid medical and flight certifications. Meteorological conditions were found to be well above the minimums required for VFR flight.
Analysis of the runway performance indicated that the pilot had sufficient distance to stop. Based on the pressure altitude, temperature, and flap configuration, the required stopping distance was approximately 155 meters, while 475 meters of usable area (including the stopway) were available. Although the instructor reported a perceived brake failure, post-accident testing of the Cessuna 152 braking system demonstrated normal functionality. Investigators concluded that the pilot's incorrect perception of a brake failure led to a premature steering maneuver to avoid an embankment, causing the excursion.
Findings
- The instructor performed an engine failure simulation that was not part of the student's approved flight training syllabus for that day.
- The instructor's inadequate risk management and potential overconfidence led to the execution of an unplanned and unauthorized maneuver.
- The pilot's incorrect perception of a brake malfunction resulted in an improper decision-making process, leading the aircraft to deviate from the runway centerline.
- The simulation of an emergency at a low altitude likely created a high-stress environment, potentially compromising the pilot's cognitive capacity and leading to instinctive, inappropriate reactions.