What happened
On March 4, 2013, a Cessna T210R, registration PR-JDV, was operating a private flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The flight originated from Alfenas, with a scheduled stop in Alfenas to embark passengers before proceeding to the final destination of Uberlândia. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and three passengers.
While flying near Araxá, the pilot determined that the remaining fuel was insufficient to reach the intended destination. After communicating with air traffic control, the pilot updated the flight plan, first changing the destination to Uberaba and subsequently to the Sacramento aerodrome. However, the aircraft eventually ran out of fuel during the flight. To avoid a more critical situation, the pilot executed an emergency landing on the MG-110 highway near the city of Sacramento, Minas Gerais. Following the landing, local authorities were notified, and the Military Police confirmed that the aircraft and all four occupants remained unharmed, with no damage reported to the aircraft.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the pilot held valid medical and technical certifications and was qualified for the operation. The aircraft was also found to be in compliance with airworthiness and registration requirements, and was within weight and balance limits. The investigation confirmed that the fuel tanks were empty at the time of the incident. Furthermore, it was noted that the pilot did not communicate the emergency status or the off-airport landing to air traffic control services during the event.