What happened
On November 13, 2015, at approximately 14:00 UTC, a Beechcraft 95-B55, registration PT-DKO, crashed approximately 150 meters from an unauthorized airstrip located near Fazenda Cuiabana, in the municipality of Paranatinga, Mato Grosso. The impact caused the aircraft to be completely destroyed by fire.
At the scene, law enforcement authorities discovered 45 kilograms of cocaine paste and a handgun among the wreckage. Due to the nature of the occurrence, investigators were unable to determine the flight's origin or intended destination, as no information regarding the flight was found within air traffic control records. The pilot sustained fatal injuries and was identified via forensic dental records.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators identified the aircraft by analyzing the engine nameplates. Records from the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) confirmed that the Teledyne Continental IO-470L engines installed on the aircraft were consistent with the registration PT-DKO. The investigation also noted that the aircraft had been listed for sale on an online marketplace prior to the accident.
Because the investigation revealed evidence of illegal activities—specifically the presence of narcotics and a firearm—and because the flight appeared to be operating in violation of aeronautical regulations, CENIPA exercised its authority to interrupt the investigation. Under Brazilian regulations (NSCA 3-13), investigations may be halted when there is evidence of intentional criminal acts that do not yield new information for the purpose of aeronautical accident prevention.