What happened
On May 27, 1996, an EMB 720D departed Pimenta Bueno, RO, bound for Rondonópolis, MT, carrying four occupants. During the flight, the pilot encountered heavy cloud formations and a passenger began feeling unwell. Seeking an immediate solution, the pilot decided to perform an unplanned technical landing at an uncertified, private airstrip located at Fazenda Canadá, in Nova Mutum, MT.
While executing the landing on the dirt runway, the pilot lost control of the aircraft on the ground. The aircraft drifted to the left, causing the left wing to collide with a barbed-wire fence post. The impact caused the aircraft to rotate 180 degrees before coming to a stop approximately 200 meters before the end of the runway. While all four occupants escaped without injuries, the aircraft sustained severe damage, including destruction of the landing gear and significant damage to the propeller, fuselage, wings, flaps, and ailerons.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed that the pilot was operating without the necessary qualifications for the mission. Although he held a Private Pilot license, he lacked the Commercial Pilot certification required for passenger transport. Furthermore, the pilot's experience was extremely limited, with estimated flight hours between 50 and 80 hours, and even less experience specifically in the EMB 720D model.
The investigation also highlighted significant operational failures regarding the hiring process. The aircraft was leased to an individual who lacked technical aviation knowledge, who in turn hired the pilot for a fee of R$ 500.00 without verifying his credentials. Additionally, the pilot had deviated approximately 85NM from his original flight path due to a lack of proper navigation and the inability to maintain visual contact with the ground beneath a cloud layer at 4,000ft.
Findings
- Inadequate pilot qualification: The pilot lacked the required Commercial Pilot rating for the intended operation and possessed insufficient flight experience.
- Improper flight planning: The pilot failed to adequately prepare for the flight, neglecting to use available meteorological, performance, and navigation aids.
- Loss of control on ground: The pilot failed to apply sufficient rudder input to counteract the aircraft's leftward drift during the landing roll.
- Inadequate supervision: Both the aircraft owner and the lessee failed to verify the pilot's operational background and legal eligibility.
- Adverse weather: The presence of a cloud layer prevented continuous visual navigation, contributing to the significant route deviation.