What happened
On September 2, 2014, at approximately 19:00 UTC, a Rockwell Commander 685 was involved in an aircraft accident at an unregistered airstrip in Piracuracia, Piauí. The aircraft had been loaded with nine five-gallon canisters of aviation gasoline before departing from the uncertified runway.
Witnesses reported that shortly after takeoff, the aircraft attempted to return to the runway. During this maneuver, the pilot lost control, causing the aircraft to land on irregular terrain and collide with trees located to the left of the departure area. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, specifically affecting the nose fuselage, the left wing, the left elevator, and the right main landing gear.
The two occupants of the aircraft fled the scene immediately following the crash, abandoning the aircraft and the fuel canisters. No injuries were reported among the crew or passengers, though their identities remain unknown.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators, through SERIPA II, were alerted to the incident by local Civil Police officers. The investigation revealed that the aircraft was operating with fraudulent identification; while it bore decals for registration PT-DRO, the actual aircraft was a different model than the one registered under that mark. Furthermore, the aircraft lacked the required identification plates, making it impossible to determine its true registration.
Investigators also found that there was no flight plan filed for the operation, and no previous flight history could be traced. Crucially, the Civil Police confirmed the presence of residues of illicit drugs within the aircraft, indicating the flight was part of an illegal operation.
Due to the evidence of criminal activity and the fact that the operation was in direct violation of aeronautical legislation, the investigation was officially interrupted. Under Brazilian law, investigations are suspended when there is evidence of crime or when the occurrence stems from a violation of existing regulations that precludes the derivation of new safety recommendations.