Accident Overview
On August 18, 2012, at 1140 UTC, two Embraer EMB-711C (Piper PA-28R-200) aircraft, Brazilian registrations PT-NKA and PT-NIR, collided in midair while in cruise flight and subsequently crashed into a sugar cane field in the vicinity of Fazenda Bonanza Airport (SDBN), Santa Barbara D’Oeste, Brazil. Both aircraft were privately owned and operated under visual meteorological conditions with no flight plans filed. The accident was investigated by the Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center (CENIPA) of Brazil.
Aircraft and Crew
PT-NKA and PT-NIR were both Embraer EMB-711C aircraft, a licensed variant of the Piper PA-28R-200. Each aircraft was registered to a private owner. Both flights had departed from SDAM at approximately 1120 UTC. On board PT-NKA were an airline transport pilot and one passenger; PT-NIR also carried an airline transport pilot and one passenger. All four occupants sustained fatal injuries.
Accident Sequence
Ground witnesses observed both airplanes approaching each other before the midair collision occurred. After the collision, the aircraft fell into a sugar cane field, where they were further damaged by impact forces and a postcrash fire. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage.
Investigation
The accident investigation falls under the jurisdiction of CENIPA, Brazil's aeronautical accident investigation authority. As of the report's release, no probable cause has been officially stated. The investigation may obtain further details from CENIPA.