What happened
On March 17, 1994, an EMB-710 C, registration PT-NFE, crashed into the Serra do Grizante in Lençóis, Bahia. The flight originated in Porto Nacional, Goiás, with a scheduled stop in Barreiras for refueling before proceeding to Palmeiras, Bahia.
During the flight, the pilot intentionally deviated from the established route to perform a low-altitude flyover of a mining area owned by the aircraft's owner, who was traveling as a passenger. Witnesses reported that the aircraft flew extremely low, near the treetops. Following this maneuver, the pilot entered a valley to the right, attempting to recover altitude. However, the steep and constant incline of the terrain, combined with the aircraft's performance limitations, prevented the crew from clearing the rocky obstacles. The aircraft struck a mountain in a nose-up attitude at low speed, near a stall condition. The impact triggered a fire that completely destroyed the aircraft. All three fatalities occurred at the scene.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the aircraft's engine was producing high power at the moment of impact, ruling out mechanical failure. While the pilot held valid commercial licenses and medical certification, investigators noted he had little experience flying in that specific region. The investigation also found that the aircraft's documentation was destroyed in the fire, though maintenance records indicated a valid annual inspection. The investigation highlighted that the low-altitude maneuver violated established regulations, which require a minimum altitude of 500 feet over non-populated areas.
Findings
- Deficient Judgment: The pilot failed to properly evaluate the area for a low-altitude pass, neglecting to consider terrain characteristics, obstacles, and the necessary trajectory for altitude recovery.
- Flight Indiscipline: The pilot intentionally deviated from the flight plan and violated altitude regulations to perform the flyover.
- Deficient Supervision: The pilot was encouraged to perform the unauthorized maneuver by the aircraft owner, who was present on board as a passenger.