What happened
On July 30, 2003, an EMB-710C, registration PT-NIZ, was performing a flight from Ariquemes, RO, to the Garimpo São Francisco landing strip in Colniza, MT. The landing strip was an unauthorized, unpaved track consisting of gravel and soil, characterized by holes, ditches, and encroaching vegetation.
During the approach, the pilot made three separate landing attempts. Witnesses noted that the aircraft approached with excessive speed on all attempts. During the third attempt, the right wing struck the ground, damaging the right landing gear. The pilot attempted a go-around, but during the maneuver, the engine lost power. The aircraft entered a left-hand turn, stalled, and collided with the terrain, subsequently striking an abandoned house. All three fatalities occurred at the scene, and the aircraft was completely destroyed.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation revealed a profound lack of regulatory compliance regarding both the pilot and the aircraft. The individual operating the aircraft held no pilot license, no flight training, and no medical certificate. Furthermore, the aircraft's airworthiness certificate had been canceled, and its annual maintenance inspection was nine years overdue. Maintenance records were not being updated, and the aircraft's weight and center of gravity were unknown at the time of the accident.
The investigation also noted significant safety risks inside the cabin. The aircraft lacked proper rear seating; one passenger was seated on an unsecured wooden bench without a seatbelt. Additionally, the seatbelts for the crew members were in such poor condition that they were non-functional. The investigation concluded that the pilot's lack of technical knowledge and the aircraft's unairworthy condition were central to the event.