What happened
In the early hours of September 4, 2015, an Embraer EMB-810C, registration PT-RAC, performed an unauthorized landing in a sugarcane field in a rural area of Lavínia, São Paulo. During the landing maneuver, the aircraft veered off the makeshift runway to the right, resulting in the failure of the landing gear and the propeller striking the ground.
Following the landing, the aircraft was abandoned. When civil authorities arrived at the scene, they discovered the aircraft partially destroyed by fire. Evidence suggested that the fire was intentionally set after the aircraft had been vacated. At the time of the investigation, the pilot was not located, and their physical condition remained unknown.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators coordinated with the Civil Police of Lavínia to review the official police report and photographic evidence. The investigation noted several irregularities regarding the aircraft's condition and documentation. The aircraft's identification plate had been removed, and the onboard documentation was missing. Inside the cockpit, investigators found a fuel canister, which appeared to have been used for transporting fuel.
Due to the presence of evidence suggesting criminal activity—specifically the suspected arson and the lack of identifiable pilot information—the investigation was interrupted. Under Brazilian aeronautical regulations, the investigation was halted as the occurrence involved potential intentional unlawful acts that did not offer new technical insights for flight safety prevention.