Piper Aircraft PA-28-160 accident near Corumbaiba, Br, May 29, 2016
On May 29, 2016 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1964 Piper Aircraft PA-28-160, registered PTCFE, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Corumbaiba. It was an aerial observation flight under non-U.S. private rules. 4 people were killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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
- May 29, 2016 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Corumbaiba, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper Aircraft PA-28-160, built 1964
- Registration
- PTCFE · no longer on the register · serial 28-1039
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Corumbaiba at 4:20 pm
- Destination: Corumbaiba
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.