What happened
On June 2, 1995, at approximately 17:15, an Aeroboero AB-115, registration PP-FLK, was conducting a local flight instruction mission at the Erechim Aerodrome in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The flight, operated by Aeroclube de Erechim, involved an instructor and a student pilot performing repetitive touch-and-go maneuvers.
During the fifth landing attempt of the session, the aircraft collided with a pedestrian on the runway. The impact occurred near the right main landing gear during the flare phase of the landing. Upon hearing a noise in the fuselage, the instructor took control and completed the landing, taxiing back to the site of the impact. The pedestrian, a child, was thrown approximately three meters from the aircraft and died at the scene. The crew members remained uninjured, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the operational environment and the visibility constraints of the aircraft. The investigation established that the Erechim Aerodrome was an uncontrolled public facility that lacked perimeter fencing to separate the operational area from nearby villages. Consequently, it was common for pedestrians to use the runway for transit.
Investigators examined the aircraft's design, noting that the AB-115 features a conventional landing gear configuration, which inherently restricts forward visibility for the pilot during the flare and taxi phases. The investigation also considered the timing of the accident; the proximity to sunset may have created shadows that obscured the pedestrian. Furthermore, the investigation noted that while the flight club's management was aware of the runway incursions, no corrective actions had been taken to secure the airfield.
Findings
- Deficient infrastructure: The aerodrome lacked adequate fencing and warning signs to prevent unauthorized access to the runway.
- Restricted visibility: The design of the AB-115 creates a significant blind spot in the forward sector during the landing flare.
- Human factors: The instructor's attention may have been diverted by monitoring the student's cockpit procedures or diminished by the repetitive nature of the training maneuvers.
- Environmental factors: Shadows caused by the late afternoon sun may have contributed to the failure to identify the pedestrian.
- Inadequate supervision: There was a lack of effective oversight to ensure the runway was clear of obstacles or persons prior to landing.