Investigation Summary
The accident occurred during a non-scheduled air taxi flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). As the aircraft approached Caratinga-Ubaporanga Airport (SNCT), the pilots opted for a wide traffic pattern. The final report noted that the downwind leg was elongated to a distance much greater than expected for a Category B aircraft. This deviation from standard procedures placed the aircraft in a region of terrain where power lines were present. The aircraft struck a lightning arrester cable belonging to the Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CEMIG) power grid. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control and crash into a rocky waterfall area in Piedade de Caratinga, approximately 4 kilometers from the runway. Investigators highlighted that the power lines were located outside the protected zone of the aerodrome and their height did not meet the legal requirements for mandatory obstacle marking, making them difficult for the crew to see against the terrain.
Final Conclusions
The Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) concluded the investigation in May 2023 (Report A-121/CENIPA/2021). The primary cause was identified as an inadequate assessment of operating parameters during the approach, specifically the elongation of the downwind leg. Contributing factors included potential spatial disorientation or loss of situational awareness regarding terrain, and the possibility that the pilot-in-command's extensive experience in commercial aviation (RBAC 121) led to 'procedural memory' interference, causing him to fly a long, automated approach profile more suited to larger jets than the King Air. The investigation also noted that the crew might not have utilized available aeronautical charts which could have alerted them to the power lines.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Visual Flight Rules (VFR)
The flight was conducted under VFR, requiring the pilots to maintain situational awareness and obstacle clearance through visual reference to the ground.
Aeronautical Charts
Charts CAP 9453 and WAC 3189 were available for the area; investigators noted their non-use may have contributed to low situational awareness regarding the power grid.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Beechcraft C90A King Air manufactured in 1984.
- 02The aircraft's manufacturer serial number was LJ-1078.
- 03The crash site was located approximately 4 kilometers south of the destination airport.
- 04The power lines involved were not required to be painted or lit as obstacles under existing regulations.
- 05The pilot-in-command had over ten years of experience in commercial airline operations.
- 06There was a strong smell of fuel at the crash site, but no post-impact fire occurred.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Obstacle Marking Review
The investigation prompted discussions regarding the marking of power lines near aerodromes, even when they fall outside the strictly defined obstacle protection zones.