What happened
On February 24, 2011, at approximately 22:30 UTC, a Piper PA-28R-200, registration PT-ITI, was performing a ferry flight from Nanuque, MG, to Governador Valadares, MG. The flight began after the aircraft had completed a previous leg from Nanuque to Três Marias and back. Although the pilot had added 20 liters of fuel in Três Marias, the remaining fuel endurance was estimated at only 30 minutes upon the final departure from Nanuque, despite the flight to the destination being planned for one hour.
During the flight, the pilot observed via the fuel gauges that levels had dropped below one-quarter tank, indicating less than one hour of endurance remaining. The pilot attempted to contact Teófilamente Otoni aerodrome to request runway lighting, but was unsuccessful. Fearing that returning to Nanuque at dusk without runway lights was unsafe, the pilot elected to continue toward the destination, reducing the fuel mixture to the minimum setting to conserve remaining fuel.
Seven minutes before the scheduled arrival, the engine ceased operation due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot initially intended to perform an emergency landing on an avenue parallel to the airport runway; however, due to the presence of vehicles and pedestrians on the roadway, the pilot opted to ditch the aircraft in the Doce River. The aircraft became fully submerged in the river and was later recovered in September 2012. The pilot emerged from the accident uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation confirmed that the aircraft was in a valid airworthy condition, with all documentation, including the Certificate of Airworthiness and engine/propeller logs, up to date. The aircraft was within weight and balance limits, and the pilot held valid medical and technical certifications. The investigation established that there were no mechanical failures or system malfunctions; the engine stoppage was caused exclusively by the lack of fuel in the tanks.
Findings
- Fuel exhaustion caused the engine to stop during the flight.
- Inadequate flight planning regarding fuel reserves.
- Errors in pilot judgment regarding the decision to continue the flight despite low fuel levels and the lack of available alternative landing sites with lighting.