What happened
On the early morning of January 11, 2003, an EMB-202 aircraft, registration PT-UKO, departed from Fazenda Perdigão in São Joaquim, Mato Grosso, for a 35 NM repositioning flight to Fazenda Beto Moreira. The flight took place during nighttime hours under conditions of intense fog.
The aircraft eventually struck trees approximately 4 meters high along the banks of the Itaquerezão stream, causing the plane to nose-down into the water. The wreckage was located later that day, partially submerged in the stream. The impact caused severe damage to the engine, propeller, left wing, and various aircraft systems. Both occupants, the pilot and one passenger, sustained fatal injuries at the scene. The passenger was not restrained, as the aircraft was only certified to carry a single occupant.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed that the pilot was operating without any valid licenses or medical certificates, as his credentials had been revoked in 1997 following an administrative inquiry involving fraud. The investigation also found that the operator was aware the pilot was unqualified for the flight.
Technical analysis of the engine and propeller showed no evidence of mechanical failure; instead, the propeller was found in a state indicating low power or engine shutdown at the time of impact. The aircraft's flaps were found in the landing position. Investigators also noted that the pilot had jettisoned the cabin side windows, likely in an attempt to facilitate an emergency egress or mitigate the impact force.
Findings
- Unqualified Pilot: The pilot was flying without a valid pilot's license or medical certificate.
- Improper Supervision: The operator allowed an unqualified individual to perform flight operations and failed to implement safety measures to prevent flights in marginal conditions.
- Severe Weather: The flight was conducted under VFR (Visual Flight Rules) in heavy fog, which prohibited safe visual navigation and prevented the pilot from spotting obstacles.
- Inadequate Planning: The flight was planned by an unlicensed individual who failed to observe aircraft limitations, such as the prohibition of carrying a second passenger in an aircraft certified for one person.
- Improper Judgment: The pilot continued the flight into deteriorating weather conditions and attempted a low-altitude maneuver that led to the collision.