What happened
On March 15, 2016, at approximately 20:00 UTC, an Embraer EMB-202A, registration PT-VCC, was performing a repositioning flight from Paragominas (SNEB) to a private landing strip at Fazenda Pagrisa (SJVX) in Ulianópolis, Pará. Upon arrival at the destination, the pilot encountered heavy rain covering the runway.
Due to the adverse weather, the pilot decided to land on an unpaved road situated between two sugarcane plantations, approximately 7km from the intended destination. During the landing roll, the left wing of the aircraft struck the adjacent vegetation. As the aircraft continued along the road, the nose gear sank into the soft, uncompacted soil, causing the aircraft to pivot 18 and eventually capsize onto its back. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right aileron, horizontal stabilizer, and right elevator, but the pilot emerged uninjured.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation examined the pilot's decision-making process and the meteorological conditions present during the flight. Investigators found that the aircraft had approximately two hours of fuel autonomy remaining at the time of the accident, providing sufficient reserves to either proceed to the planned alternate (SNGW) or return to the origin (SNEB).
While the pilot had contacted the destination via telephone prior to departure, the report indicated that no formal meteorological consultation, such as checking satellite precipitation imagery, was performed. The investigation noted that satellite data from the day showed weather formations were moving away from the destination and alternate airports, suggesting a trend toward improving conditions. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted that the road used for the landing was only 17 meters wide, leaving very little margin for error given the aircraft's 11.69-meter wingspan.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to land on the road was influenced by adverse meteorological conditions and the lack of updated weather intelligence.
- The aircraft's nose gear sank into the saturated, uncompacted ground, leading to the capsize.
- A lack of awareness regarding the improving weather trends contributed to the flawed decision-making process.
- The narrowness of the road and the presence of heavy rain on the left side of the path increased the risk of the wing striking the sugarcane plantation.