What happened
On March 18, 2018, at approximately 19:50 UTC, a P-1 ultralight aircraft, registration PU-LEP, departed from Capelinha Aerodrome (SICK) in Minas Gerais, Brazil, bound for Teófilo Otoni (SNTO). The flight was being operated for private purposes with a pilot and one passenger on board.
During the flight, near the municipality of Setubinha, MG, the aircraft experienced an engine failure in flight. The pilot performed an emergency landing on the MG 211 highway near kilometer 82. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage, both occupants emerged from the wreckage uninjured.
The investigation
Investigators from SERIPA III learned of the occurrence through internet news four days after the event. Upon review, the pilot was found to hold a valid medical certificate and a valid Advanced Terrestrial Ultralight (UATE) rating.
However, the investigation faced significant obstacles. The aircraft was removed from the crash site on the day of the accident and transported for repairs without notifying or obtaining authorization from the aeronautical investigation authority, as required by the Brazilian Aeronautical Code (CBA). After ten days of unsuccessful attempts to contact the pilot, investigators learned that repair work had already commenced. This unauthorized removal and the subsequent lack of communication prevented any technical analysis, testing, or research that could have identified the specific cause of the engine failure.