What happened
On March 20, 1998, at approximately 17:50Z, a Piper PA-24, registration PT-BIV, crashed near Batatais, São Paulo. The aircraft had been stationary at the Batatais Aerodrome for nearly a month. On the day of the accident, the aircraft owner and two others arrived at the airfield intending to fly to Pato Branco, Paraná. The individual acting as pilot had previously requested instruction from local pilots but had been denied.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft was fueled with 350 liters, and an additional 100 liters of fuel were carried inside the passenger cabin in two separate containers. After liftoff, the aircraft maintained a low rate of climb with the landing gear still extended. The pilot reported a critical error in engine management, where he mistakenly reduced the power levers instead of the propeller pitch controls, leading to a significant loss of thrust. The aircraft failed to clear obstacles ahead, banked to the right, and struck the ground. The impact triggered an explosion, fueled largely by the unsecured gasoline containers in the cabin, resulting in the total loss of the aircraft and three serious injuries among the occupants.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the individual operating the aircraft held no pilot license, no medical certificate, and no formal flight training. The investigation also revealed significant maintenance and regulatory discrepancies. The Piper PA-24 was operating with an expired Certificate of Airworthiness, expired mandatory insurance, and an expired Airworthiness Inspection Certificate (IAM). Furthermore, the engine and propeller logbooks were out of date, and the aircraft's maintenance intervals were not being properly observed.
Findings
- The pilot was completely unqualified and lacked any legal authorization or training to operate the aircraft.
- The aircraft owner permitted an unlicensed individual to operate the aircraft, representing a failure in operational supervision.
- The pilot's error in reducing power instead of propeller pitch caused a loss of thrust necessary for a safe climb.
- The failure to retract the landing gear contributed to a loss of lift and performance.
- The presence of 100 liters of loose fuel inside the passenger cabin significantly intensified the post-impact fire.
- The operation involved intentional disobedience of aviation regulations and flight discipline.