What happened
On August 16, 1996, an EMB-720D, registration PT-VGA, crashed near Itaituba, Pará, after colliding with trees. The flight originated from an improvised runway created on a stretch of the Transgarimpeira highway.
At the time of departure, the aircraft was carrying five passengers and various cargo. Both the passengers and the cargo were unsecured and poorly distributed within the cabin. Shortly after taking off from the unauthorized roadway, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude and struck trees approximately six kilometers from the takeoff point. The impact destroyed the aircraft, and all six occupants (the pilot and five passengers) sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the operational conditions and the pilot's qualifications. The investigation established that the pilot was operating with an expired technical certificate (CHT), which had been invalid for two years. While the aircraft's engine and propeller logs were up to date, the 50-hour inspection was overdue.
Investigators examined two primary hypotheses regarding the loss of control. The first suggested a potential engine failure or power loss due to fuel contamination, noting that the pilot reportedly neglected to drain fuel tanks and that fuel quality in the mining region is often compromised by poor storage and lack of oversight. The second hypothesis focused on weight and balance; the unsecured and poorly distributed load may have shifted during the takeoff roll or initial climb, causing the center of gravity to move beyond safe limits and compromising aircraft performance.
Findings
- The pilot was operating with an expired license.
- The takeoff was performed from an unauthorized, improvised runway on a public highway.
- Passengers and cargo were unfastened and improperly distributed, which contributed to the fatal nature of the injuries and potentially compromised the aircraft's stability.
- Operational irregularities included the use of an uncertified landing site and the lack of proper fuel drainage procedures.
- The local fuel supply chain, driven by mining activities, lacks adequate inspection, increasing the risk of water or impurity contamination.