What happened
On May 1, 1994, a T-6D aircraft, registration PT-KUX, was performing an aerobatic display in Turmalina, Minas Gerais, to celebrate Labor Day. The pilot had been performing low passes over the town square and lower residential areas, executing consecutive loops and rolls.
Following these maneuvers, the pilot initiated a left-hand reversing turn. At the top of the maneuver, with a bank angle exceeding 9/0 degrees, the aircraft entered a stall. Although the pilot managed to reduce the bank angle to approximately 30 degrees and leveled the wings, the aircraft remained at a dangerously low altitude with a 20-degree nose-down attitude and insufficient airspeed. In an attempt to recover, the pilot reduced engine power and applied back pressure on the controls, which further degraded the aircraft's performance. The aircraft subsequently struck a building at an altitude of approximately 300 feet above the previous flight path, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the pilot's qualifications, flight planning, and the sequence of aerodynamic events. The investigation established that while the aircraft was in a fully airworthy condition and the pilot held a valid medical certificate, he was not properly qualified to perform aerial demonstrations.
The investigation found that the pilot's training in the T-6D was inconsistent and lacked formal instruction from a qualified instructor. Furthermore, the pilot had not performed a prior reconnaissance of the area, failing to account for the local topography in his flight planning. Evidence from the engine and propeller indicated that power was reduced prior to impact, confirming the pilot's decision to pull back on the controls during the stall recovery attempt.
Findings
- Improper Stall Recovery: The pilot's decision to reduce engine power and apply back pressure during a low-altitude stall significantly decreased the chances of a successful recovery.
- Inadequate Training: The pilot lacked the necessary experience and formal instruction required to safely execute high-risk aerobatic maneuvers in this specific aircraft type.
- Poor Flight Planning: The pilot failed to consider the local terrain and topography, leading to a maneuver performed at an altitude that left no margin for error.
- Psychological Factors: The pilot exhibited traits of impulsivity and a tendency toward improvisation, which contributed to the unsafe operational decisions.
- Unauthorized Demonstration: The pilot was performing an aerial demonstration without the specific legal qualifications required for such activities.