What happened
On August 9, 1998, at the Aeroclube de Sergipe (SNAU) in Aracaju, Brazil, an AB-115 Aeroboero, registration PP-FKO, was performing a non-planned promotional flight. The flight was organized to celebrate the completion of a private pilot ground course and to provide media coverage for a female student's achievement. The crew consisted of an instructor operating from the rear seat and the student as a passenger in the front nacelle seat.
During the takeoff roll, approximately sixty meters from the start of the runway, the passenger alerted the pilot to a child walking on the runway. The pilot attempted an emergency maneuver, swerving to the left to avoid a collision. However, the child moved toward the same side of the runway, resulting in a fatal impact. The child passed away while en route to the hospital. The aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed that the aerodrome was highly vulnerable to unauthorized incursions. While a wire fence delimited the area, frequent breaches by local residents—who used the runway as a shortcut—were common. On the day of the accident, no specific measures were taken to isolate the runway despite the ongoing festivities.
The investigation also noted that the instructor's visibility was significantly compromised. Operating from the rear seat of the AB-115 with a passenger in the front nacelle seat, the pilot's forward field of view was obstructed, particularly during low-speed taxi and takeoff phases. Furthermore, the investigation found that the aeroclube's organizational culture had become complacent, accepting the presence of pedestrians as a routine risk.
Findings
- Inadequate flight planning: The instructor failed to account for the high risk of runway incursions during a public event and chose an operating position that severely limited visibility.
- Organizational complacency: The aeroclub's culture accepted the constant presence of pedestrians and animals in the maneuvering area as a normal operational condition.
- Deficient infrastructure: The lack of a permanent, secure perimeter allowed unauthorized access to the runway.
- Lack of oversight: The aeronautical authority (SERAC 2) was aware of the safety risks at the aerodrome but had not intervened to suspend operations or mandate better isolation.
- Human factors: The pilot may have felt pressured to proceed with the flight to support the aeroclube's promotional goals, despite the known risks.