Belo Horizonte-Tancredo Neves-Confins | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

After touchdown on runway 16 at Belo Horizonte-Tancredo Neves-Confins Airport, the three engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway at high speed, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2A1 in São Paulo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1986 at 0732 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

PP-SME

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

São Paulo – Belo Horizonte

MSN:

20096

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

VP210

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left the apron and taxied to the runway threshold for takeoff on a regular schedule service VP210 to Belo Horizonte. Due to foggy conditions, the visibility was nil and the crew mistakenly lined up on the 'threshold' of the taxiway instead of the runway. Unaware of the wrong position of the aircraft, the crew was cleared for takeoff by ATC and started the takeoff procedure. After few seconds, the captain realize the situation and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, struck an embankment and came to rest, broken in two. A passenger was killed, 20 other occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the crew to recognize that he was lined up on a taxiway and not the active runway. Poor visibility due to foggy conditions was a contributing factor.