Cessna Aircraft 172A accident near Teresina Municipality, Br, December 16, 2013
On December 16, 2013 at about 9:48 pm local time, a 1960 Cessna Aircraft 172A, registered PTCNL, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Teresina Municipality (Teresina International Airport). It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 4 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 2013 · about 9:48 pm local time
- Place
- Teresina Municipality, Brazil · Teresina International Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna Aircraft 172A A, built 1960
- Registration
- PTCNL · no longer on the register · serial 47154
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 26, 2013, about 2148 universal coordinated time (UTC), a Cessna 172, Brazilian registration PT-CNL, was destroyed while conducting touch and go landings in the Teresina Municipality, State of Piauí, Brazil. The pilot, copilot, and 2 passengers incurred fatal injuries. The local flight originated from Teresina International Airport (SBTE) Teresina, Brazil. Shortly after the second takeoff from SBTE, the airplane impacted the ground about 130 meters from the left side of the runway. After the impact with the ground, the airplane exploded. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Brazil. Any further information can be obtained from: Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center Investigation Division SHIS - QI 05 – VI Comar, Brasília-DF, Brazil ZIP: 71.615-600 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains information released by or obtained for 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 takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SBTE Teresina Municipality
- Destination: SBTE Teresina Municipality
- Runway 02, 7,233 ft by 148 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| 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.