What happened
On October 2, 2011, a CAP-4 aircraft, registration PP-RRY, operated by Aeroclube de Santo Angelo, departed from the Santo Ângelo Aerodrome (SBNM) in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The aircraft was carrying two pilots. During the flight, the aircraft performed a forced landing in a wheat field located near runway 11 of the aerodrome. The landing resulted in light damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators were alerted to the event via an anonymous report one day after the occurrence. While the aerodrome administrator formally reported the event as an off-airport landing, officials from the aircraft's operator initially contacted the investigation authority to deny that any such incident had taken place. Following a request for written clarification that went unfulfilled, an initial action team visited the site.
Investigators identified paint fragments in the wheat field that matched the aircraft's color. Upon inspecting PP-RRY, investigators found chipped paint, particularly on the landing gear structure, and evidence of recent paint touch-ups on the elevator. Surveillance footage also revealed that the aircraft was moved to a different hangar and then to a parking area shortly after the time of the reported incident. Furthermore, the flight was not recorded in the aircraft's logbook.
Due to the operator's lack of cooperation and the inability to positively identify the crew or confirm the specific flight details, the investigation was officially interrupted.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained light damage during the forced landing.
- The operator's refusal to provide voluntary data and the lack of entries in the aircraft logbook prevented the definitive identification of the crew and the specific flight parameters.
- Non-compliance with aviation regulations and the lack of transparency regarding the occurrence prevented the investigation from yielding new safety knowledge.