Accident
During the approach to Jequié Airport, the flight crew encountered unfavorable weather conditions. While descending in the Vale de Pedra area, the aircraft descended too low and struck the ground, crashing several kilometers from the airport. The captain was killed in the impact. The copilot sustained serious injuries and died a few hours later.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the crew's decision to continue the descent under visual flight rules (VFR) while in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The crew descended to an altitude at which they could not maintain visual contact with the ground, ultimately resulting in controlled flight into terrain.
Contributing Factors
The investigation identified several contributing factors:
- Poor crew coordination
- Lack of visibility
- Failure of the crew to follow published procedures