What happened
On December 12, 2015, an EMB-202 agricultural aircraft, registration PT-UQH, departed from Fazenda Mirandópolis in Juscimeira, Mato Grosso, to perform fungicide application over a soybean plantation. Approximately ten minutes into the flight, the pilot encountered dense fog along the intended flight path.
In an attempt to maintain visual meteorological conditions (VMC), the pilot lowered the aircraft's altitude to stay below the fog layer. Upon realizing that visual contact with the ground could no longer be maintained, the pilot decided to abort the mission and return to the origin airfield. While performing a right-hand turn during this return maneuver, the aircraft's spraying equipment struck the soybean crops. This contact caused a loss of lift, leading the aircraft to collide with the ground and travel approximately 70 meters before coming to a complete stop. The pilot survived the impact without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the pilot was highly experienced, with approximately 2,700 total flight hours, 1,700 of which were in the EMB-202. The pilot held valid medical and agricultural flight certifications, and the aircraft was fully compliant with airworthiness requirements, including up-to-date inspections and proper weight and balance.
While regional meteorological reports indicated favorable flying conditions for the area, the investigation noted that localized fog is common in that specific low-lying terrain near rivers during early morning hours. The investigation focused on the pilot's decision to descend to a lower altitude to bypass the fog and the subsequent loss of situational awareness during the turn.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to fly at an extremely low altitude to maintain VMC, despite encountering adverse weather, led to a degraded situational awareness.
- The pilot's perception of external obstacles was impaired due to the low altitude and weather conditions.
- The aircraft's spraying system became entangled with the crops during the turn, resulting in the impact.
- Contributing factors included improper flight planning, flawed decision-making processes, and inadequate pilot judgment regarding the risks of operating in deteriorating visibility.