Small RV-7A Crashes After Takeoff in Orlândia, Killing Two

Overview

• The RV-7A lifted off from a private aerodrome in Orlândia and crashed seconds later on Friday when it lost altitude after a maneuver, leaving the pilot and copilot dead.
• Authorities identified the victims as Victor Simões da Silva and José Ricardo Santana, who had flown to the region to attend a local equestrian event.
• Multiple videos from security cameras and bystanders show the plane flipping briefly 'belly-up' and descending rapidly, footage that investigators have collected as key evidence.
• The aircraft, an RV-7A built in 2011, was registered and listed as regular in ANAC records, and responders used foam to control a fuel leak before taking the occupants to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.
• Polícia Civil has opened a suspicious-death inquiry and is working with Seripa and the Polícia Técnico-Científica on forensic perícias, witness interviews and technical analysis to determine the cause and next investigative steps.