What happened
On November 29, 2013, an Embraer EMB-202A, registration PT-VTI, was performing an agricultural application flight from a landing strip at Fazenda Sete Lagoas in Mogi Guaçu, São Paulo. During the takeoff roll, the pilot observed that the aircraft was not accelerating as expected. Determining there was insufficient runway remaining to perform an aborted takeoff, the pilot attempted to continue the roll and jettison the chemical payload. During the maneuver, the landing gear collided with an orange plantation, causing the aircraft to cap-size. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Investigators from SERIPA IV faced significant challenges due to the operator's failure to report the accident promptly to the SIPAER system. By the time investigators arrived, the aircraft had already been removed from the site and the wreckage had been disturbed. This lack of scene preservation made it impossible to determine critical factors such as the exact condition of the debris, the aircraft's weight and balance, or the specific environmental conditions at the moment of impact.
Additionally, the investigation revealed that while the aircraft held a valid Airworthiness Certificate, the pilot was operating with an expired Agricultural Pilot (PAGA) rating and an expired Medical Certificate (CMA).