What happened
On June 27, 2018, a Piper PA-31, registration PT-IIU, departed from an unregistered airstrip in Guarantã do Norte, Mato Grosso, bound for an unregistered landing site near the Transamazon Highway in Itaituba, Pará. The flight, operated privately, carried a pilot and two passengers.
At approximately 17:30 UTC, the aircraft performed a forced landing in the Rio Novo, near Jardim do Ouro. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. While the pilot survived the landing, the two passengers were not located at the scene. Following the event, the pilot fled the crash site and was later located by military police at a hotel in the Morais Almeida District.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators became aware of the occurrence via social media approximately 40 hours after the event. The investigation uncovered evidence of a violent crime occurring on board. According to police records, a dispute between the passengers allegedly led to a shooting; one version of events suggests a passenger was shot and thrown from the aircraft, while another suggests the pilot shot a passenger and ejected the body. Physical evidence, including substances consistent with blood and brain matter, was discovered inside the cabin.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the aircraft's Airworthiness Certificate was suspended, as the annual maintenance inspection had expired on May 31, 2018. There were also reports of potential sabotage involving sand found in the engine dipstick during the preceding week.
Due to the presence of evidence indicating criminal activity and the fact that the operation was in violation of aeronautical legislation, CENIPA officially interrupted the investigation.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating with an expired annual maintenance inspection.
- The pilot's medical certificate and flight ratings were valid.
- The aircraft was operating from and destined for unregistered airstrips.
- Evidence of a violent crime was found within the aircraft cabin.
- Maintenance records for the airframe, engines, and propellers were not provided for review.