What happened
On the night of November 21, 2004, a Cessna 182H, registration PT-CGZ, departed from the Eunápolis airport (SNEP) in Bahia, Brazil, bound for Salvador. The flight was intended to transport a passenger, who was a student of the pilot, to attend a private pilot theoretical examination. At the time of departure, the airport was closed, the runway lacked lighting, and weather conditions were poor, characterized by rain and low ceilings.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft entered Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). The pilot, who was not instrument-rated and was operating an aircraft not certified for IFR flight, attempted to descend below the cloud layer to regain visual contact with the ground. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck the terrain in a wooded area near Fazenda Recreio. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The pilot sustained minor injuries, but the passenger died in the accident.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed that the flight was planned under significant pressure to meet the passenger's exam schedule. The pilot, an instructor at a local flying club, had planned the departure for 04:00 AM to ensure arrival in Salvador by 07:00 AM. The investigation found that the pilot had operated from a closed airfield without a flight plan and failed to consult meteorological information from nearby Porto Seguro.
Investigators also examined the organizational culture of the flying club, noting that the aircraft owner—who was also the club's director—had authorized the flight as a courtesy. The investigation highlighted that the pilot's decision-making was compromised by anxiety and a lack of experience in non-instructional flight environments.