What happened
On October 5, 1996, a Piper PA-23-250, registration PT-KAJ, operated by Regional Táxi Aéreo, was performing a takeoff from the intersection of the taxiway and runway 10 at Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre. Shortly after the landing gear was retracted and the aircraft crossed the opposite runway threshold, the pilot experienced a gradual and constant power loss in both engines.
In an attempt to restore power, the pilot switched to auxiliary fuel tanks and cycled the mixture controls, but these actions were unsuccessful. The pilot initiated a left turn to attempt a return to the runway; however, the loss of altitude and declining airspeed forced a landing in dense forest. The aircraft struck the canopy of a 30-meter-tall tree, which cushioned the impact, before falling vertically to the ground. The pilot escaped uninjured, while two passengers sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed that the aircraft had been hangaraged for seven months in Belém prior to the flight. While the engines and propellers had updated maintenance logs, the investigation uncovered significant systemic failures within the operator, Regional Táxi Aéreo.
Investigators found that the company lacked essential operational structures, including a navigation department, pilot training programs, and standardized checklists. Furthermore, the maintenance department was found to be critically deficient, employing mechanics' assistants to perform complex tasks without proper technical oversight or component control. The investigation also noted that the pilot had experienced a similar power loss in the same aircraft eight months prior but had not taken corrective action to ensure a thorough engine overhaul.