What happened
On July 27, 2019, at approximately 19:00 UTC, a Cessna 182P, registration PT-JDG, departed from an unregistered airstrip located in Crepurizão, Itaituba, Pará, for a flight to Itaituba Municipal Airport (SBIH). The aircraft was operating a private flight to transport personnel, carrying a pilot and two passengers.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft suffered a loss of engine power. The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing in an open field. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage, all three occupants—the pilot and two passengers—sustained only minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation by CENIPA was initiated after the authority became aware of the occurrence through social media. Investigators noted that the aircraft had been removed from the accident site without prior authorization from the SIPAER investigation authority, which is a violation of established protocols regarding the preservation of evidence.
Regarding the flight's legality, the takeoff occurred from an unregistered landing strip, which contradicts Brazilian aeronautical regulations requiring aerodromes to be registered and approved for the specific aircraft and operation type. While the pilot held a valid medical certificate and appropriate single-engine land ratings, the investigation could not assess recent experience due to a lack of cooperation from the crew and owner regarding logbooks and maintenance records.
Crucially, the investigation revealed that the aircraft was not in an airworthy condition. The Annual Maintenance Inspection had been expired since November 2013, and the Airworthiness Certificate had been canceled because the Airworthiness Verification Certificate had expired in June 2016.
Findings
- The aircraft's annual maintenance inspection was expired by several years.
- The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was canceled.
- The takeoff was performed from an unregistered airstrip.
- The aircraft was removed from the scene without authorization from the investigating authority.
- Non-compliance with established civil aviation regulations served as a contributing factor to the unsafe operation.