What happened
On December 29, 2018, an Icaros Adventure ultralight aircraft, registration PU-DVD, departed from the Aeroclube de Sergipe (SISG) in Aracaju, Brazil, for a local flight. Approximately ten minutes into the flight, the aircraft was observed performing maneuvers at a very low altitude over the Bugio neighborhood. Witnesses reported the aircraft executing steep turns and significant altitude variations at heights below 300 meters. During these maneuvers, the aircraft entered a nose-down attitude, striking the roof of a residence and subsequently hitting a wall separating a sports court from another house. The impact caused the aircraft to catch fire, resulting in its total destruction. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the pilot's experience, the aircraft's maintenance, and the flight's legality. The pilot held a valid recreational pilot certificate (CPR) and medical certificate, but had limited experience, with only 67 total flight hours and approximately five hours in this specific equipment. Investigators noted that the aircraft had been disassembled at the pilot's residence since its purchase in February 2018, and the pilot had completed the reassembly himself without professional supervision or qualified assistance. While the aircraft had previously passed an initial technical inspection by ANAC, the investigation could not recover the specific experimental flight authorization (CAVE) or marking certificates (CME). Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable for visual flight.
Findings
- The pilot performed maneuvers at an altitude below the legal minimum of 300 feet (approximately 100 meters) above the highest obstacle in the area, violating air regulations.
- The pilot's lack of experience and improper use of flight controls were identified as primary factors.
- The pilot's decision-making and flight attitude contributed to the accident.
- The unsupervised assembly of the aircraft by the pilot introduced potential risks regarding maintenance and structural integrity, though the post-crash fire prevented a definitive determination of mechanical failure.
- The pilot's actions demonstrated a lack of appropriate risk management and a disregard for established safety procedures.