Piper PA28R accident near Eliseu Martins, Br, March 6, 2012
On March 6, 2012 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA28R, registered PTNKS, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Eliseu Martins. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2012 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Eliseu Martins, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R 200 · all PA28Rs on the register
- Registration
- PTNKS · no longer on the register · serial 711127
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 6, 2012, about 1400 universal coordinated time, a Piper PA-28R-200, Brazilian registration PT-NKS, was destroyed when it impacted terrain, following a loss of control during cruise flight near Eliseu Martins, Brazil. The foreign certificated pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight departed Aueroporto Nossa Senhora de Fatima (SWLE), Belem, Brazil; destined for Bom Jesus do Gurgueia (SNGG), Gurgueia, Brazil. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center (CENIPA) of Brazil. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center Investigation Division CENIPA SHIS - QI 05-VI Comar Brasilia-DF, Brazil 71.615-600 Telephone: (55-61) 3364-8800 Fax: (55-61) 3365-1004 dipaa.spai@cenipa.aer.mil.br This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Brazil.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
Pilot
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNNF Belem at 11:00 am
- Destination: SNGG Gurgueia
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.