What happened
A private flight departed from Florianópolis-Hercilio Luz Airport at 05:15 local time, bound for Ji-Paraná. The aircraft, a single-engine plane, was operated with one pilot and one passenger on board. During the initial climb phase at an altitude of approximately 3,600 feet under night conditions, the pilot began a right-hand turn. The flight path subsequently involved a full 360-degree turn before the aircraft impacted the water near Campeche Island.
Following the accident, small amounts of debris were observed floating on the surface the next morning. The primary wreckage was not located until two weeks after the event. There were two fatalities resulting from the crash.
Findings
Investigators examined several potential contributing factors regarding the loss of control. A primary hypothesis involves spatial disorientation, as the flight conditions—nighttime operations over the ocean within cloud cover using manual controls—were highly conducive to such an event. The pilot may have experienced visual illusions due to the lack of terrestrial light references or a complete inability to maintain correct aircraft attitude.
Other factors considered include potential issues with command application and the possibility that the pilot's professional pressures influenced their decision-making regarding flight limitations in instrument meteorological conditions. Additionally, investigators noted that a lack of proficiency in the English language might have hindered the pilot's ability to utilize onboard resources, equipment, or simulator training effectively.