What happened
On August 12, 2022, at approximately 20:00 UTC, a Beechcraft BE58, registration PS-JVA, was performing a local flight at Santa Genoveva Airport (SBGO) in Goiânia, Brazil. The flight was being conducted for the purpose of evaluating the aircraft's autopilot system. The pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft.
After completing the necessary in-flight checks, the pilot received authorization from the control tower to land on Runway 3 and2. However, the aircraft landed on Taxiway J, which runs parallel to the active runway. At the time of the landing, another aircraft was taxiing at the end of Taxiway J, but the two aircraft remained approximately 1,000 meters apart. The pilot did not realize the error until the aircraft was already on the ground. There were no injuries to the pilot and no damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation confirmed that the pilot held valid licenses and medical certification, and the aircraft was airworthy and within weight and balance limits. Meteorological conditions were well above the required minimums for the flight.
Investigators analyzed the position of the sun at the time of the landing using specialized tools. They determined that the sun was located at a magnetic heading of approximately 312°, at an elevation of about 15° above the ground. This position placed the sun directly in the pilot's line of sight during the approach to Runway 32, causing significant glare.
Furthermore, the investigation noted that Taxiway J possessed the same width as the runway and was properly marked. The investigation also identified a pattern of similar occurrences, noting that four other landings on Taxiway J had been recorded in the four years prior to this incident. While the aeronautical charts (ROTAER) included a warning not to confuse the final approach for Runway 32 with Taxiway J, the physical characteristics of the airfield and the environmental conditions contributed to the error.
Findings
- The position of the sun during the approach caused sun glare that obscured the pilot's vision.
- The pilot experienced an increased workload and a failure in perception, leading to an inability to distinguish the taxiway from the runway.
- The physical characteristics of the airport, specifically the similarity in width between the runway and Taxiway J, created a latent risk.
- The pilot failed to execute a missed approach (go-around) despite the visual uncertainty caused by the glare.