1 fatality

2012-04-20: Beechcraft 90 King Air (PP-WCA) — Tufy Lemos Filho — Jundiaí, Brazil

Jundiaí, BrazilLanding (descent or approach)

On April 20, 2012, a Beechcraft 90 King Air (registration PP-WCA) operated by Tufy Lemos Filho was involved in an aviation accident near Jundiaí, Brazil during landing or approach. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by a cross-control stall during an uncoordinated attempt to realign with the approach axis, compounded by the pilot's lack of qualification and experience in the aircraft type. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781194903Data APIEditorial standards

A solo pilot was killed when his aircraft lost power and crashed short of the runway during a local flight in Brazil.

What happened

A local flight departing from Jundiaí-Comandante Rolim Adolfo Amaro Airport ended in a fatal accident after the pilot experienced engine failure. Shortly after departing from runway 36, the pilot notified air traffic control that the engine had lost power and that maintaining a safe altitude was becoming impossible. Air traffic controllers authorized an immediate return to the airport.

While performing a circuit and attempting to land on runway 18, the aircraft drifted off the approach axis. During the attempt to realign with the runway, the pilot lost control of the plane. The aircraft struck the ground approximately 180 meters before reaching the runway threshold, landing upside down and catching fire. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot, who was the only person on board.

Findings

Investigations into the accident highlighted several critical contributing factors:

  • The pilot's attempt to correct the flight path during the final approach likely led to an improper rudder input, resulting in a cross-control stall.
  • The pilot was operating the aircraft without the necessary training or legal qualifications for that specific model.
  • A lack of experience with this particular aircraft type prevented the pilot from recognizing the emergency and executing appropriate recovery maneuvers.
  • Regulatory vulnerabilities allowed the pilot to bypass flight notification safeguards by using the credentials of a qualified individual, which prevented effective oversight of the unauthorized flight.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by a cross-control stall during an uncoordinated attempt to realign with the approach axis, compounded by the pilot's lack of qualification and experience in the aircraft type.