What happened
On June 30, 2014, an Embraer EMB-810C, registration PT-ESM, departed from Barão de Melgaço, Mato Grosso, destined for Avaré, São Paulo. The flight was intended to be conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) carrying one passenger and a cargo load described by the pilot as 220kg of solid insecticide. However, during the flight, the pilot encountered significant technical and navigational challenges.
The pilot reported that the aircraft's VHF communication equipment was malfunctioning, allowing for reception but preventing transmission. Additionally, the aircraft's ADF and VOR instruments were inoperable, and the aircraft was not equipped with GPS. Furthermore, the pilot had not brought necessary aeronautical charts (WAC, CNAV, or CAP) for the flight. Lacking electronic or paper navigation aids, the pilot attempted to navigate using only a magnetic compass heading.
After approximately 4 hours and 40 minutes of flight, the pilot was unable to locate the intended destination. Facing a critical risk of engine flameout due to approaching fuel exhaustion, the pilot descended to 2,500 feet to search for an emergency landing site. After an additional 30 minutes of flight at minimum fuel consumption settings, the pilot performed an emergency landing on an irregular dirt road within a potato plantation in the rural area of Itaí, São Paulo. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the engine, propeller, fuselage, and landing gear, though both occupants remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the aircraft was carrying illegal drugs, which was confirmed by local military police at the scene. The investigation examined the pilot's flight planning, the operational status of the aircraft's avionics, and the circumstances leading to the loss of situational awareness. The investigation confirmed that while the pilot held valid medical and technical certifications, and the aircraft held a valid airworthiness certificate, the flight was conducted with severe navigational and communication deficiencies.