What happened
On May 12, 1995, an EMB 711ST, registration PT-VHQ, departed from the Goiânia National Aerodrome in Goiás, Brazil, bound for Palmas, Tocantins. The flight was planned under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). During the flight, the pilot encountered adverse meteorological conditions near Petrópolis de Goiás. A local witness reported hearing a loud noise after the aircraft entered a cloud formation, followed by seeing aircraft components falling from the sky.
The aircraft disintegrated in flight, and the wreckage was located approximately 32 NM from the Goiânia VOR. The impact resulted in two fatalities, as both the pilot and the passenger died at the scene. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the pilot, while holding a Private Pilot license, lacked the necessary instrument rating (IFR) to fly in the encountered conditions. Although weather information was available at the departure aerodrome, the pilot did not consult it. Furthermore, the pilot received inaccurate weather information from another aircraft in flight, which led him to believe conditions were better than they actually were.
The investigation found that the aircraft was not certified for IFR operations. Evidence from the wreckage, including the wide dispersal of parts and the engine falling vertically after separating from its mount, indicated that the aircraft was subjected to excessive load factors. The investigation also noted that maintenance records, engine logs, and flight logs were missing, making it impossible to verify the aircraft's recent maintenance history.
Findings
- Spatial disorientation likely occurred when the pilot entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) without the proper qualification.
- The pilot's attempt to recover control resulted in excessive load factors that exceeded the structural design limits, causing the aircraft to break up.
- Personal stressors, including significant anxiety regarding a legal matter involving land invasion, likely contributed to impulsive decision-making and a lack of proper flight planning.
- Inadequate flight planning and failure to consult available meteorological data were key contributing factors.
- The pilot's decision to continue the flight into IMC without IFR capability constituted imprudence and a violation of flight regulations.