What happened
On July 27, 2001, a Beechcraft V35-B, registration PT-JCO, was performing a local flight circuit between the Municipal Aerodrome of Olímpia (SDOL) and a nearby farm. The flight, which included the pilot and one passenger, was returning to the aerodrome in the late afternoon.
As the pilot approached the runway, he performed a low pass over the main runway axis to alert people in the area of the aircraft's arrival. After observing only a small group of people near the airfield perimeter fence, the pilot proceeded with a standard traffic pattern, opting to land on the taxiway instead of the main runway.
While the aircraft was decelerating after touchdown on the taxiway, the left wing's leading edge struck a 14-year-old boy who had been running across the area in pursuit of a kite. The impact caused light damage to the aircraft's leading edge and resulted in the fatal injury of the pedestrian, who died at the scene.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the Olímpia aerodrome had been officially closed for ten months due to inadequate infrastructure and safety concerns, including high vegetation and holes on the main runway. This closure was documented in official NOTAMs and known to local pilots.
The investigation found that the pilot was aware of the aerodrome's closure but continued to use it because it allowed him to store the aircraft in a hangar closer to his family residence. The investigation also noted that the local municipality, responsible for the aerodrome, failed to prevent unauthorized flight operations despite having marked the runways with 'X' symbols to indicate the closure.
Findings
- Improper use of a closed aerodrome: The pilot chose to operate at a prohibited facility for personal convenience.
- Inadequate flight planning: The pilot failed to plan a flight using a safe, certified alternative, such as the nearby Bebedouro aerodrome.
- Human factors: The pilot exhibited complacency, a culture of non-compliance, and a lack of attention to the movement of pedestrians near the aircraft during the landing roll.
- Lack of oversight: The local authority failed to supervise the airfield and prevent clandestine operations that placed the public at risk.
- Pedestrian movement: The victim's sudden movement across the taxiway contributed to the collision.