What happened
On May 2, 2008, a Cessna 310, registration PT-JGX, operated by Aero Star Táxi Aéreo, departed Salvador (SBSV) for Ilhéus (SBIL) with six occupants on board. The flight was initially conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at FL100. During the descent, the pilot requested to cancel the IFR flight plan and proceed under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) after checking the weather in Ilhéus.
At 17:43 local time, the aircraft made its last radio contact with Ilhéus Approach, reporting its position 27 NM from the destination. Radar data later revealed that the aircraft had deviated to the right of its intended route, moving toward the coastline. This deviation aligned with a specific area of terrain that the passengers had requested to overfly. Shortly after, the aircraft disappeared from radar. While debris, including seat fragments and engine cowling, was found on a beach 20 km north of the last contact point, the aircraft and the six fatalities were never recovered.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the loss of the aircraft. Investigators examined the flight's transition from IFR to VFR, the meteorological conditions in the area, and the crew's operational status. The investigation noted that while weather at the departure and arrival airports was adequate, a subsequent flight over the disappearance area reported heavy rain and significant cloud cover, making VFR operations impossible.
Investigators also looked into the crew's qualifications, noting that while the pilot was highly experienced, the co-pilot lacked multi-engine and VFR-specific qualifications for the type. Furthermore, the investigation scrutinized the operator's management practices, specifically the use of freelance pilots not officially employed by the company.