What happened
On August 28, 2020, at approximately 16:15 UTC, a Beechcraft C35, registration PT-AFN, crashed near the Taboca do Pau Ferrado settlement in Teresina, Piauí. The aircraft had departed from the Aeródromo Nossa Senhora de Fátima (SIPW) without a filed flight plan or prior notification to authorities.
Witnesses at the airfield observed the aircraft departing from runway 20, noting that it drifted to the left of the runway centerline while maintaining a high angle of attack. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft entered a steep dive, striking the ground and subsequently catching fire. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and fatal injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that while the pilot held a valid private pilot license and medical certificate, the aircraft was not in an airworthy condition. The Certificate of Airworthiness for PT-AFT had been canceled since December 15, 2009.
On the morning of the accident, the pilot had visited a maintenance hangar with the stated intention of performing only an engine run and a taxi test. The pilot was explicitly informed by maintenance personnel that the aircraft was not airworthy and subsequently signed a liability waiver acknowledging this status. Despite this, the aircraft was fueled with 172 liters of aviation gasoline, and the pilot proceeded to take off without authorization or flight plan filing.
Investigators were unable to verify the aircraft's weight and balance or review the maintenance logs for the airframe, engine, or propeller, as these records were not provided during the inquiry.
Findings
- The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness had been canceled for over a decade.
- The pilot operated the aircraft in direct violation of Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulations (RBAC 91), which prohibit the operation of unairworthy aircraft.
- The pilot's failure to adhere to established aviation regulations was a contributing factor to the accident.