What happened
On December 2, 2018, a private Hawker Beechcraft C90GTI, registration PP-JFB, departed from Aeródromo Fazenda Cristal 2 in Nova Crixás, Goiás, bound for Santa Genoveva Airport (SBGO) in Goiânia. The flight was carrying a pilot and three passengers.
Upon arrival at SBGO, the airport was operating under Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). The pilot executed a VOR/DME instrument approach for runway 32. While the pilot reported achieving visual contact with the pavement approximately 500 feet above the ground, he mistakenly identified taxiway J—which runs parallel to runway 32—as the active runway. The pilot proceeded to land on the taxiway and only realized the error once the aircraft was already on the ground. There were no injuries to the four occupants, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed, rated for multi-engine land and instrument flight, and held a valid medical certificate. The aircraft was also found to be airworthy, within weight and balance limits, and properly maintained.
Investigators noted that while the runway lighting was operational, the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) for runway 32 was not functioning at the time of the incident. The investigation focused on the pilot's transition from instrument to visual flight. It was determined that during the approach, the pilot's concentration on the instrument procedures led to a reduction in his ability to process external visual stimuli. This resulted in a loss of selective attention and a failure to correctly identify the landing surface.
Findings
- The pilot misidentified taxiway J as runway 32 upon reaching visual conditions.
- The Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) for runway 32 was inoperative.
- Pilot inattention and loss of situational awareness during the transition from instrument to visual flight contributed to the misidentification.