What happened
A flight departing from Goiânia-Santa Genoveva Airport for Caratinga resulted in a fatal accident when the twin engine airplane struck an obstacle during its descent. While performing a visual flight rules (VFR) approach to Caratinga-Ubaporanga Airport, the aircraft, registered as PT-ONJ, collided with a lightning rod situated atop a high-voltage pylon. The impact caused the separation of the left engine and led to an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft subsequently crashed into a river bed approximately 4.1 km before reaching runway 02. The wreckage was destroyed by the force of the impact, resulting in five fatalities among the two pilots and three passengers.
Findings
Investigations into the accident highlighted several contributing factors regarding the crew's approach and situational awareness:
- The crew may have focused their attention on the runway at the expense of monitoring terrain separation during the visual approach.
- There was an inadequate assessment of flight parameters, specifically involving an elongated downwind leg that exceeded standard procedures for a Category B aircraft.
- The pilot's procedural memory from previous long-term operations may have led to automated decision-making that did not suit the specific requirements of this approach.
- A failure to utilize available aeronautical charts likely reduced situational awareness regarding local terrain and the presence of nearby power grid infrastructure.