What happened
On May 9, 2015, a Cessna 182J, registration PT-CND, departed from the Novo Progresso Aerodrome (SJNP) in Pará, Brazil, bound for Pista Nova, an unregistered landing strip. During the flight, the pilot transmitted a distress message via radio, reporting an engine failure and declaring an intention to perform an emergency landing at the Aldeia Baú landing strip.
Following the emergency declaration, the aircraft was located by local residents submerged in the Baú River, near the head of the Aldeia Baú runway. The aircraft was completely destroyed. The pilot's body was discovered two days later in the Curuá River, approximately 20 km away from the wreckage. Following the accident, the aircraft wreckage was removed and transported to an unknown location without authorization from the CENIPA investigation authorities.
The investigation
CENIPA terminated the investigation into this occurrence. The investigation was halted because the wreckage was moved without official permission, and the findings indicated that the accident resulted from a series of intentional violations of aeronautical legislation. The authorities determined that because the primary contributing factors were direct breaches of established regulations, further investigation would not yield new preventive knowledge, as the necessary safety actions rely strictly on the enforcement of existing laws.
Findings
- The pilot was operating with an expired Medical Certificate (CMA).
- The pilot's Technical Flight Crew Certificate (CHT) was expired.
- The aircraft's Airworthiness Certificate (CA) had been canceled.
- The aircraft's Annual Maintenance Inspection (IAM) had been expired for twelve years.
- The intended destination landing strip was not listed in the Aeronautical Information Publication (ROTAER).
- The wreckage was removed from the scene without the authorization of the SIPAER investigation authority.