What happened
On September 28, 2018, at approximately 19:50 UTC, a Cessna 172P, registration PR-WSA, was performing a private flight from Barreirinhas (SSRS) to the CAVU Aerodrome (SIPB) in Raposa, Maranhão. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and two passengers.
During the landing on runway 10, the aircraft experienced a sudden right crosswind gust. As the pilot was maintaining a speed of 45 KIAS—which was below the manufacturer's recommended approach speeds—the aircraft drifted to the left. This maneuver caused the left wingtip to strike the ground, leading to a loss of control. The impact resulted in the failure of the nose and left main landing gear, and the propeller also made contact with the ground. The aircraft came to a stop beside the runway with substantial damage, though all three occupants escaped without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the flight conditions, the pilot's qualifications, and the aircraft's maintenance status. The investigation established that the pilot was properly licensed and medically certified, with sufficient experience for the flight. However, the investigation revealed that the aircraft's Airworthiness Certificate (CA) had been suspended since June 2017 because the required Annual Maintenance Inspection (IAM) had not been performed. Additionally, several aircraft components were overdue for inspection, and maintenance logs for the airframe, engine, and propeller were not up to date.
Investigators also noted that while the flight was categorized as private, the passengers had reportedly paid for the flight to help cover maintenance costs, suggesting a deviation from the intended use of the aircraft's registration category.
Findings
- The pilot's use of an approach speed of 45 KIAS was significantly lower than the 60–70 KIAS recommended in the Cessna 172P manual, which reduced the effectiveness of the control surfaces.
- Inadequate assessment of flight parameters regarding airspeed and crosswind components contributed to the loss of control.
- The pilot's decision-making process failed to consider alternative airports or waiting for improved weather conditions.
- The aircraft was operated with a suspended Airworthiness Certificate due to overdue annual inspections.