What happened
During an arrival at Araçatuba Airport, the flight crew encountered severe weather characterized by intense rainfall. After two unsuccessful attempts to land on runway 22, the crew executed a go-around and decided to attempt a landing on runway 04. While performing a left-hand turn at a very low altitude under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) while actually flying in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), the aircraft type struck the ground with its left wingtip. The impact occurred several hundred meters before reaching the runway threshold.
The accident resulted in seven fatalities, including both pilots and five passengers, while eight other occupants sustained injuries.
Findings
Investigation into the crash highlighted that the airport was operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) due to the heavy rain and wet runway surfaces. Although the crew received information regarding the adverse conditions, they did not divert to an alternate airport. The decision to attempt a visual approach to runway 04 involved a 180-degree turn in conditions where visual contact with the ground was not established.
Several contributing factors were identified, including the crew's decision to attempt a visual approach despite being in IMC. Investigators noted that the pilots may have been experiencing fatigue or anxiety due to being away from their home base for five days and the desire to complete their mission. Additionally, the seating arrangement, with the captain positioned on the right side, may have hindered effective monitoring of the flight path, contributing to the pilot's attempt at a visual maneuver that was impossible under the prevailing weather.