What happened
On April 3, 1997, an EMB 721, registration PT-LDF, departed Campo de Marte airport in São Paulo with the intention of flying to Jundiaí. During the flight, the route was changed to São Carlos, a destination the pilot knew would be reached after sunset. The aircraft arrived at the São Carlos aerodrome approximately 30 minutes after dusk.
During the landing attempt, the aircraft performed two low passes over the runway. On the final approach to runway 24, the aircraft became misaligned with the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to assist the person in the left seat with the approach, but the aircraft eventually struck the ground on the right side of the runway near the threshold at an angle of approximately 10 degrees. The impact caused severe damage to the aircraft. One passenger, the owner of the aircraft, died at the scene due to head trauma after being thrown against the instrument panel because he was not wearing a seatbelt. Another passenger sustained serious injuries, while the pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the cockpit dynamics and the decision-making process leading to the crash. Investigators examined the relationship between the pilot and the passenger, noting that the passenger was also the pilot's employer and landlord. The investigation established that the pilot had allowed the unauthorized passenger to occupy the left seat and take command of the aircraft.
While the pilot claimed the passenger demanded the seat change during the flight, investigators noted that the pilot's psychological profile showed a tendency toward submissiveness to authority, and the power imbalance between employer and employee likely influenced the decision. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the pilot's experience, finding he had only 10 hours of flight time in this specific model, and noted that the aerodrome was not certified for night operations and lacked air traffic control.