What happened
On December 23, 2022, at approximately 10:50 UTC, a Neiva EMB-201A, registration PT-UAD, was performing an agricultural spraying mission near Cacequi, Rio Grande do Sul. The aircraft was operating from a private agricultural landing strip located at Fazenda Serafin.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft exceeded the boundaries of the unpaved landing area. As it left the strip, the aircraft collided with a crop irrigation system, causing the aircraft to overturn. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot escaped the wreckage uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified, holding valid commercial licenses and medical certification. The aircraft was also in compliance with all regulatory requirements, including a valid airworthiness certificate and up-to-date maintenance logs. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was within its maximum takeoff weight limits and properly balanced.
Environmental conditions were favorable, with visibility and ceiling well above minimum requirements and no significant meteorological threats present. However, the investigation focused on the physical dimensions of the landing strip, which measured 550 meters in length and 15 meters in width. By interpolating performance data from the manufacturer's manual—accounting for the aircraft's weight, temperature, and altitude—investigators determined that the required takeoff distance was approximately 762 meters. This revealed that the available runway length was insufficient for the operational conditions.
Findings
- The available runway length was shorter than the distance required for takeoff under the prevailing conditions.
- Inadequate flight planning regarding the calculation of the minimum required takeoff distance.
- Potential errors in pilot decision-making, specifically the decision to proceed with the takeoff despite insufficient runway length.
- Possible loss of situational awareness or reduced attention due to the repetitive nature of the agricultural flight profiles and high familiarity with the local area.