What happened
On August 13, 1999, at approximately 06:30 local time, a Cessna 310 Q, registration PT-KCO, was performing a takeoff from an uncertified dirt landing strip in Guarantã do Norte, Mato Grosso. The flight was part of a multi-leg journey originating in Campinas, São Paulo, en route to Itaituba, Pará.
As the aircraft reached rotation speed near the $V_1$ decision point, a motorcycle crossed the runway from a perpendicular street and came to a stop in the center of the path. The pilot, unable to abort the takeoff, rotated the aircraft approximately 50 meters before the motorcycle's position. As the aircraft passed over the vehicle at an altitude of roughly 1.5 meters, the left main landing gear struck the motorcycle.
The impact caused the pilot to lose control, veering the aircraft to the left. The aircraft subsequently struck a tree and collided with four nearby houses. The impact and the rupture of the wing fuel tanks caused the aircraft to catch fire. The collision resulted in two fatalities: the motorcyclist and a woman inside one of the houses. The pilot sustained minor injuries and successfully evacuated the burning aircraft.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the decision-making process leading to the use of the uncertified strip. The investigation established that the pilot had diverted to this location the previous day after noticing discrepancies in the fuel gauges during the flight from Rio Verde. Lacking a formal flight plan for the area, the pilot used radio contact with another aircraft, PT-JUI, to identify the nearest available landing site for refueling and an overnight stay.
Investigators noted that the pilot failed to utilize nearby established infrastructure, such as the Cachimbo military base, which was only 40 NM away and offered much safer operating conditions. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness was suspended at the time of the accident, and the pilot was operating in violation of Brazilian civil aviation regulations regarding the use of unregistered aerodromes.
Findings
- Inadequate decision-making: The pilot's judgment was flawed regarding the necessity of landing at an uncertified, high-risk strip to address a non-critical instrument failure.
- Deficient flight planning: The pilot failed to establish adequate alternate aerodromes along the route.
- Operational non-compliance: The flight involved intentional use of an unregistered landing strip and the operation of an aircraft with a suspended Certificate of Airworthiness.
- Unsafe airfield environment: The landing strip lacked any perimeter fencing or isolation from the surrounding residential area, allowing the motorcycle to enter the runway path.