What happened
On September 4, 2019, at approximately 18:30 UTC, an experimental CT-U aircraft, registration PU-MSM, departed from the Aeródromo Associação Recreativa Fazenda Bonanza in Piedade, São Paulo, for a local flight. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
During the flight, the pilot encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions. Fearing that the remaining fuel was insufficient to complete the return to the airfield, the pilot made the decision to shut down the engine in flight. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a rural area on unpaved, plowed terrain. During the landing roll, the aircraft capsized, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Both occupants of the aircraft were uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot held valid medical certificates and necessary ratings for single-engine and multi-engine land aircraft, as well as instrument ratings. The pilot's flight experience included approximately 718 total flight hours. The aircraft, an experimental type, held a valid Certificate of Authorization for Experimental Flight (CAVE).
However, the investigation was limited because the aircraft was removed from the accident site without authorization from the investigating authority. Consequently, investigators were unable to perform a more in-depth technical analysis of the wreckage or verify the validity of the aircraft's maintenance records (RIAM).