What happened
On September 6, 1998, an AB-1s operated by Aeroclube de Tupi Paulista was performing a daytime local flight for flight readjustment at Tupi Paulista Airport (SDTI) in São Paulo. During the approach to runway 06, the pilot configured the aircraft with 15 degrees of flaps and maintained a speed of 70 mph on final approach.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft lifted off the runway again due to the excessive speed and improper flap configuration. The aircraft drifted with the wind (from the right) and lost the runway centerline to the left. The pilot attempted a go-around by executing a left turn, which led to a loss of control and a stall. The aircraft subsequently struck a tree at a height of 4 meters, approximately 100 meters from the runway, before impacting the ground in a ditch about 170 meters from the runway. The aircraft sustained severe damage to its structure, engine, and propeller, though the pilot emerged uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the pilot, while properly licensed, had very little experience with the AB-115 and had only completed two hours of flight time in the aircraft the previous day. The investigation found that the pilot's approach configuration—15 degrees of flaps at 70 mph—deviated from the standard operating procedure, which requires 45 degrees of flaps and a speed of 60 mph.
Furthermore, the investigation examined the flight school's training protocols. It was noted that the pilot had been cleared for solo flight after only two hours of readjustment flight, a period deemed insufficient given the pilot's low flight frequency and lack of experience with this specific model. The investigation also found that the pilot's decision to execute the go-around with a left turn, rather than straight ahead to compensate for the wind, contributed to the loss of lift and the subsequent stall.