What happened
On December 5, 2012, an Embraer EMB-720D, registration PT-VPM, was operating a private flight from Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso, to Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and four passengers. Approximately ten minutes before the scheduled arrival at Rondonópolis, the pilot diverted the flight to an uncertified, non-homologated landing strip located at Fazenda Mirandópolis, in the municipality of Juscimeira.
During the landing roll on this uncertified strip, the aircraft veered off the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, but all five occupants escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the pilot's decision-making process and the flight planning. While initial reports suggested the diversion was made at the request of a passenger, the pilot later stated that deteriorating meteorological conditions at the intended destination made a visual approach unsafe. However, investigators noted that the distance between the departure and destination airports was only 98 NM, making significant weather changes unlikely during the 40-minute flight.
The investigation found that the pilot failed to perform a thorough assessment of the weather conditions for the route and the involved aerodromes prior to departure. Furthermore, the pilot elected to land at an unregistered and unapproved site rather than returning to the departure airport, where weather conditions were known. During the landing at the uncertified strip, the pilot admitted to not checking the wind direction and choosing a runway heading that resulted in a crosswind landing.
Findings
- Improper decision-making regarding the diversion to an uncertified landing site.
- Inadequate flight planning and failure to assess meteorological conditions for the intended route.
- The pilot's decision to use a non-homologated runway instead of returning to the origin airport increased operational risk.
- The pilot's lack of specific experience with this aircraft model may have hindered effective control during the crosswind landing.
- The pilot's attitude and judgment contributed to the unsafe operation.