What happened
On June 4, 2011, a CAP 4 aircraft, registration PP-RTX, was conducting a touch-and-go instructional flight at the Caruaru Aerodrome (SNRU) in Pernambuco, Brazil. During the traffic pattern, following a touch-and-go maneuver, the aircraft entered a loss of control while on the base leg. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground approximately 50 meters from the side of runway 31 and impacted the terrain. Both the instructor and the student pilot sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined conflicting accounts from the two crew members. The student pilot reported that the instructor had simulated an engine failure by reducing power at approximately 250 feet, leading to a situation where the aircraft entered a stall. The student attempted to apply full power to recover, but the low altitude prevented a successful avoidance of the ground impact.
Conversely, the instructor stated that while making notes in the cockpit after the takeoff, he realized the aircraft had slowed to 60 MPH and was in an uncoordinated left turn with excessive left rudder. He attempted to regain control by pitching down and applying maximum power, but the left wing had already stalled. The investigation also noted that the terrain near the runway threshold was approximately 50 feet higher than the opposite end, which may have increased the pilots' perception of proximity to the ground.
Findings
The investigation identified several contributing factors that led to the accident. A primary cause was a lack of effective cockpit coordination and communication, exacerbated by a lack of a pre-flight briefing regarding the specific procedures for when the instructor would take control or simulate emergencies.
Furthermore, the instructor's habit of performing written notations during the critical climb phase of flight diverted attention away from flight monitoring. This distraction delayed the recognition of the aircraft's deteriorating flight state, specifically the loss of airspeed and the uncoordinated turn. The investigation also noted that the student's tendency to perform uncoordinated turns was documented in previous evaluations, and the flight school's oversight regarding these operational habits was a contributing factor.