What happened
On July 7, 2024, a Piper PA-28-23, registration PT-JNW, was performing a ferry flight to deliver the aircraft to a new owner in Ariquemes, Rondônia. During the flight, the aircraft experienced an engine failure, forcing the pilot to perform an emergency landing in a cotton plantation at Fazenda Tucunaré, located in Sapezal, Mato Grosso. The aircraft was carrying two occupants, a pilot and a passenger, both of whom reportedly escaped the scene without injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators learned of the occurrence through media reports ten days after the event, as the operator failed to report the accident to the authorities. The investigation revealed that the aircraft was not in an airworthy condition; its Airworthiness Certificate had been canceled, and both its Airworthiness Verification Certificate and Annual Maintenance Inspection had been expired since August 2019.
Furthermore, the investigation was significantly hindered by the actions of the occupants and third parties. The occupants left the site immediately after the landing without providing contact information. Additionally, the aircraft was removed from the accident site during the night on July 11, 2024, without authorization from the investigating authority, preventing an initial on-site inspection and damage assessment. As of the conclusion of this report, the investigators were unable to identify the occupants or determine the current location of the aircraft.