What happened
On June 29, 2018, at approximately 15:10 UTC, a Cessna 182G, registration PT-CDE, crashed near the BR-230 highway in Itaituba, Pará, shortly after departing from an unregistered airstrip. The aircraft was performing an air taxi operation to transport cargo.
Immediately following takeoff, the aircraft struck the ground in an open area and caught fire. While the investigation was alerted to the event via social media, unconfirmed reports suggested the aircraft may have experienced an engine failure during the initial climb, leading to a forced landing. The wreckage contained evidence of flammable materials, including gasoline, diesel, and two gas cylinders. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators were unable to physically inspect the aircraft due to the extent of the fire damage; the registration PT-CENIPA was identified through witness testimony. Because the operation was conducted in violation of several aviation regulations, the investigation was officially interrupted.
Records from the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) revealed that the aircraft's Airworthiness Certificate (CA) had been canceled, and its annual maintenance inspection had been expired since September 2009. Furthermore, the pilot's medical certificate and single-engine land rating had both been expired since early 2009. Due to the widespread non-compliance with aeronautical legislation, investigators determined that the occurrence was a result of operating outside the legal safety framework, making further technical analysis for prevention purposes moot.