Loss of Control in Flight of Beechcraft A36 in Bahia

Casualties unknown • MACARANI, BA, BR

A Beechcraft A36 crashed in Macarani, Brazil, after encountering severe convective weather, resulting in three fatalities.

What happened

On November 10, 2014, a Beechcraft A36, registration PT-WVM, departed from Salvador, BA, bound for Belo Horizonte, MG. The flight was being conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) with a pilot and two passengers on board. Approximately 95 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a loss of control in flight. The aircraft struck the ground in the Mata do Passarinho area, near the border of Bahia and Minas Gerais. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of all three occupants.

The investigation

CENIPA's investigation focused on the meteorological conditions and the decision-making process leading to the accident. Investigators found that a cold front was moving through the region, bringing significant instability and a line of Cumulonimbus clouds. The investigation examined the aircraft's structural integrity, noting it had been modified with an Allison 250B17F2 turboprop engine. The analysis also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting he held a Private Pilot license but lacked Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) certification. Evidence showed that shortly before losing radar contact, the pilot requested a left deviation from the route to avoid adverse weather formations.

Findings

  • The aircraft encountered severe convective weather, including turbulence, icing, and heavy rain, associated with a line of Cumulonimbus clouds.
  • The inadequate assessment of the risks involved in proceeding with the flight under known unfavorable VFR conditions was a primary contributing factor.
  • The aircraft likely experienced structural failure due to excessive aerodynamic loads, potentially caused by abrupt control inputs or speeds exceeding VMO during the encounter with turbulence.
  • There was a lack of formal safety culture and operational rules, characterized by an informal relationship between the pilot and the owner/passengers.
  • The pilot's decision-making was influenced by a desire to meet scheduled commitments and a potential lack of experience in managing such high-stress meteorological environments.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the decision to continue a VFR flight into known adverse meteorological conditions, leading to an encounter with severe convective activity that likely induced structural failure through excessive aerodynamic loading.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2014-11-10 aircraft accident near MACARANI, BA, BR?

A Beechcraft A36 crashed in Macarani, Brazil, after encountering severe convective weather, resulting in three fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2014-11-10 involved a aircraft, registration PTWVM, at MACARANI, BA, BR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the decision to continue a VFR flight into known adverse meteorological conditions, leading to an encounter with severe convective activity that likely induced structural failure through excessive aerodynamic loading.

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