What happened
On November 30, 2011, an Aero Boero AB-115, registration PP-FHP, departed from Uberlândia, MG, en route to Catalão, GO, for a flight instruction session. The crew consisted of an instructor and a student pilot. Approximately 10 nautical miles from the destination, the instructor decided to divert to an alternative landing site in Três Ranchos, GO, believing that weather conditions at the origin airport were unfavorable for a return.
Upon arriving at the alternative site, the student pilot performed an unstable approach. During the landing roll, the instructor directed the student to execute a ground go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft veered to the left, exiting the runway and striking several obstacles, including an outdoor advertisement and a windsock support pole. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though both occupants escaped without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed that the meteorological conditions at the origin airport (SBUL) were actually within visual flight rules (VFR) limits at the time of the occurrence, contradicting the instructor's perception. Furthermore, the landing strip used in Três Ranchos was neither registered nor approved for aeronautical operations, and it contained hazardous obstacles near the runway edges.
The investigation also identified a deficiency in the instructor's training process. It was determined that the instructor did not possess the full technical proficiency required for the activity, as evidenced by his failure to immediately take control of the aircraft when the student became destabilized during the ground go-around.
Findings
- Inadequate pilot judgment regarding the necessity of diverting to an unregistered strip when the origin airport was operating under VFR conditions.
- Use of an unapproved and unregistered landing strip.
- An unstable approach by the student pilot.
- Deficiencies in the instructor's training and technical proficiency.
- Presence of obstacles near the runway margins that increased the severity of the excursion.
Safety action
CENIPA issued recommendations to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to oversee the flight school's safety management manual, specifically regarding flight planning and instruction techniques. Additionally, the agency was urged to disseminate the findings of this investigation to alert pilots to the risks of improper flight planning and the dangers of operating at unregistered aerodromes.