What happened
On January 5, 2017, at 19:40 UTC, a Cessna A188B, registration PR-PEL, was performing an agricultural spraying operation to apply urea to a rice crop. The aircraft departed from an improvised agricultural landing strip located at Fazenda Capão da Moça, in Tapes, Rio Grande do Sul.
Immediately following rotation, the aircraft failed to maintain a sufficient climb gradient to clear the terrain. Consequently, the pilot was forced to land the aircraft in a rice field located just ahead of the runway axis. The pilot was uninjured, and the aircraft sustained no damage during the incident.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified, holding a valid Commercial Pilot license and appropriate agricultural ratings, with approximately 1,500 total flight hours. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate and maintenance logs for the engine, propeller, and airframe were all up to and within regulatory requirements. At the time of the event, the aircraft was within its weight and balance limits, with a takeoff weight of 3,600 pounds.
While the general meteorological conditions were considered suitable for flight, the investigation noted the presence of isolated meteorological formations near the operation area. Although the takeoff strip (520m x 12m) provided a theoretical safety margin of approximately 116 meters based on manufacturer performance charts for calm winds, the pilot reported a sudden change in wind direction during the takeoff roll. This shift resulted in a tailwind component, which likely increased the required takeoff distance beyond the available runway length.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a loss of altitude immediately after rotation.
- A shift in wind direction introduced a tailwind component during the takeoff roll.
- The change in wind direction likely increased the takeoff distance required, potentially exceeding the safety margin provided by the landing strip.
- Uncertain meteorological conditions and flight planning factors contributed to the event.