What happened
On November 19, 1999, an EMB 711C, registration PT-NJZ, departed Brasília (SBBR) for Belo Horizonte (SBBH) carrying a pilot and two passengers. The flight was intended to transport the passengers to a medical seminar. While flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), the aircraft encountered Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) characterized by rain and restricted visibility.
As the aircraft passed near the Campina Grande allotment in Felixlândia, MG, witnesses observed the aircraft in an abnormal, inverted attitude. During the flight, structural components, including parts of the wings and the horizontal stabilizer, detached from the airframe. The aircraft subsequently collided violently with the ground in a wooded area. The impact resulted in three fatalities (the pilot and both passengers) and the total loss of the aircraft.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the pilot's qualifications, the meteorological conditions, and the sequence of events leading to the structural failure. Investigators found that the pilot held a Private Pilot license but lacked Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) qualification, which was essential given the weather conditions encountered. The pilot had only 43 total flight hours, with only 01 hour and 30 minutes of experience in the EMB 711C.
Analysis of the wreckage showed that the propeller was attached to the engine and indicated little to no power at the moment of impact. The investigation established that the pilot likely attempted to recover the aircraft from an abnormal attitude, subjecting the airframe to excessive aerodynamic loads that caused the wings and other parts to separate at their attachment points. This separation also severed the fuel supply, leading to engine shutdown.
Findings
- Excessive self-confidence: The pilot exhibited a lack of critical judgment and an overestimation of his abilities, potentially bolstered by the recent installation of a GPS unit.
- Inadequate experience: The pilot lacked the necessary flight hours and specific type experience to safely manage the complexities of the mission.
- Improper decision-making: The pilot chose to proceed into adverse weather rather than returning to the departure airport or diverting to an alternate airfield.
- Failure to plan: The pilot did not adequately consult or evaluate available meteorological information regarding the route.
- Flight indiscipline: The pilot continued VFR operations into IMC conditions without the required IFR qualification.