Unlicensed Pilot Operates Unairworthy Cessna 182C in Remote Amazon Region

Casualties unknown • ALTO ALEGRE, RR, BR

An investigation into the 2010 crash of a Cessna 182C in Roraima, Brazil, revealed a series of severe regulatory violations, including an unlicensed pilot and an unairworthy aircraft.

What happened

On June 9, 2010, a Cessna 182C, registered as PT-BIN, departed from an unregistered airstrip in São Silvestre, Pará, bound for another unregistered airstrip known as Fernando, in Roraima. The mission details and the identity of the occupants were initially unknown. The disappearance of the aircraft was not reported to aviation authorities until nine days after the departure, when the pilot's spouse filed a police report.

Two years later, in June 2012, authorities were notified that the wreckage of the aircraft had been located in the Serra do Caveira, within the Yanomami indigenous territory. The crash site was situated in dense jungle, approximately a three-deay trek from the municipality of Alto Alegre, RR. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft suffered substantial damage.

The investigation

CENIPA's investigation into the occurrence was initiated long after the event, following notification from local police. The investigation examined the regulatory status of the pilot, the airworthiness of the aircraft, and the legality of the flight operations. The inquiry established that the individual operating the aircraft was not a licensed pilot and lacked the necessary medical certification. Furthermore, the investigation found that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate had been canceled since late 1999, rendering the flight illegal under Brazilian aviation regulations. The investigation was ultimately interrupted as the findings highlighted a series of intentional regulatory violations that did not offer new opportunities for safety recommendations beyond existing protocols.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the operation of an unairworthy aircraft by an unlicensed pilot, involving unauthorized airstrips and a lack of flight planning.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2010-06-09 aircraft accident near ALTO ALEGRE, RR, BR?

An investigation into the 2010 crash of a Cessna 182C in Roraima, Brazil, revealed a series of severe regulatory violations, including an unlicensed pilot and an unairworthy aircraft.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2010-06-09 involved a aircraft, registration PTBIN, at ALTO ALEGRE, RR, BR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the operation of an unairworthy aircraft by an unlicensed pilot, involving unauthorized airstrips and a lack of flight planning.

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