What happened
On October 4, 2020, a Neiva EMB-810D, registered as PT-VJV, departed from Aeródromo Coronel Alexandre Raposo (SNOZ) in Paço do Lumiar, Maranhão, bound for Aeródromo Fazenda Sucuri (SDUS) in Machadinho D’Oeste, Rondônia. The flight was intended to transport cargo and one passenger.
At approximately 12:00 UTC, the aircraft's last known position was over Paragominas, Pará. Following the disappearance, the Amazon Rescue Coordination Center (RCC-AZ) initiated search operations, which were suspended on October 10, 2020, after no wreckage or aircraft could be located. While the aircraft's status and any potential injuries remained unconfirmed by official wreckage recovery, media reports suggested the pilot survived and was later seen in Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso, after 24 days in the jungle.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the legality of the flight operation and the circumstances surrounding the disappearance. Investigators established that the person operating the aircraft held no pilot license or flight rating, nor did they possess a valid Aeronautical Medical Certificate (CMA).
The investigation also faced significant hurdles due to a lack of cooperation from the aircraft owner and operator. Investigators were unable to access the aircraft's maintenance logs (cell, engine, and propeller logbooks), making it impossible to verify the aircraft's weight and balance status or its mechanical history. Although the aircraft's Airworthiness Certificate (CVA) was valid at the time of the incident, the lack of regulatory compliance regarding the crew's qualifications was a primary focus of the analysis.