What happened
On November 10, 2008, at approximately 15:15 UTC, a Neiva EMB 721C, registration PT-EXO, performed an unplanned landing in a sugarcane field located at Fazenda Minerva in the rural area of Adolfo, São Paulo. The aircraft, which was operating in a private capacity, came to rest in the middle of the plantation.
The impact of the landing caused damage to the propeller and landing gear, as well as structural deformation to the wings. Following the landing, the occupants of the aircraft fled the scene before authorities arrived. The aircraft was subsequently seized by local police.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation into the occurrence was interrupted. The investigation established that the aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness at the time of the event. However, the owner or operator did not report the accident to the relevant authorities.
Due to the fact that the occupants fled the scene and the circumstances suggested potential illegal activity, the investigation was halted. Under Brazilian aeronautical regulations, CENIPA may terminate an investigation if there is evidence of intentional unlawful acts that would not yield new information for accident prevention.