What happened
On December 15, 2016, at approximately 21:07 UTC, a Neiva EMB-201, registration PT-GNM, was performing agricultural spraying operations over a sugarcane plantation at Fazenda Esperança, in Santa Helena de Goiás. The aircraft had departed from a nearby landing strip to apply pesticides. During the application process, the aircraft collided with a tree and subsequently impacted the ground. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the fatal injuries of the pilot.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified, holding valid commercial licenses and medical certification. The aircraft was also in an airworthy condition, with all maintenance logs up to date, and was operating within its proper weight and balance limits. Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable for flight.
Investigators noted that while the pilot had performed a reconnaissance flight over the area prior to starting the spraying to identify ground obstacles, this was his first time operating in this specific field. Analysis of the wreckage site revealed that the accident occurred approximately 45 minutes before sunset. At the time of the collision, the sun was positioned directly in the aircraft's heading (the bow), which likely caused significant glare and reduced visibility.