7 fatalities

2021-09-14: Beechcraft 250 Super King Air (PS-CSM) — CSM Agropecuária — Piracicaba, Brazil

Piracicaba, BrazilTakeoff (climb)

On September 14, 2021, a Beechcraft 250 Super King Air (registration PS-CSM) operated by CSM Agropecuária was involved in an aviation accident near Piracicaba, Brazil during takeoff. 7 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft entered a stall during takeoff because it was operated significantly above its maximum takeoff weight, combined with a crew failure to monitor airspeed due to distraction by propeller RPM. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781189921Data APIEditorial standards

A Beechcraft B200GT crashed into a forest shortly after departing Piracicaba Airport, resulting in seven fatalities.

What happened

Shortly after departing Runway 35 at Piracically Airport, a Beechcraft B200GT entered an initial climb phase when the crew received a stall warning alarm. The aircraft struggled to maintain altitude and began a right-hand turn before descending into a eucalyptus forest approximately 1.5 km north of the airfield. Upon impact, the aircraft disintegrated. The accident resulted in seven fatalities, including the pilot, co-pilot, and five passengers.

Findings

Investigations identified several contributing factors regarding the flight's execution and the crew's performance:

  • The aircraft was operating at a weight that exceeded its maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) by 1,374 pounds. This overweight takeoff caused the aircraft to enter a pre-stall condition during rotation.
  • The crew experienced a lack of situational awareness due to fixation on excessive propeller RPM, which prevented them from noticing a critical decrease in airspeed.
  • Inattention was noted in the crew's performance, specifically regarding monitoring flight parameters following the retraction of the landing gear.
  • A reduction in engine power applied by the pilot after gear retraction likely contributed to the stall condition.
  • The investigation also highlighted potential issues with training sufficiency for this aircraft class and a common industry misconception regarding the ability to operate the aircraft above its specified weight limits.

Probable cause

The aircraft entered a stall during takeoff because it was operated significantly above its maximum takeoff weight, combined with a crew failure to monitor airspeed due to distraction by propeller RPM.