What happened
On April 15, 2019, a Piper PA-3-1T2I, registration PT-FTZ, departed from Rio Verde, GO, en route to Santa Genoveva Airport (SBGO) in Goiânia, GO. The flight was operating as a private mission, carrying a pilot and four passengers.
During the approach, the pilot executed an RNAV instrument procedure for runway 14. While on final approach, the pilot reported a momentary failure of the landing gear indicator light, though the gear was subsequently confirmed to be down and locked. During this period, the pilot mistakenly identified an asphalt surface as the active runway. The pilot only realized the aircraft was aligned with taxiway 'J' when the plane was very close to the ground. To avoid further complications, the pilot proceeded with the landing on the taxiway. The aircraft sustained no damage, and all five occupants were uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot was fully qualified with valid commercial licenses and medical certification. The aircraft was also in compliance with all airworthiness requirements, including up-to-date maintenance logs and proper weight and balance.
Investigators determined that the pilot experienced a significant increase in workload during the final approach due to the distraction caused by the landing gear indicator light malfunction. This surge in information load led to a failure in perception, where the pilot failed to recognize that the aircraft was aligned with a taxiway rather than the runway. Furthermore, the investigation noted a failure in the decision-making process, as the pilot chose to continue the landing instead of executing a missed approach.