Manaus | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While descending to Manaus-Eduardo Gomes Airport following an uneventful flight from Tefé, the aircraft was correctly established on the ILS when the crew was instructed by ATC to initiate a go-around and to follow a holding pattern as the priority was given to an ambulance flight. The crew made a left turn heading 060° and continued the descent after passing 2,000 feet when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed about 33 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 33 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the descent below 2,000 feet until the aircraft impacted ground. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew reported his altitude at 2,000 feet while the real altitude of the airplane was 1,300 feet,
- The crew continued the descent until final impact,
- The crew did not react to the GPWS alarm that sounded four times when the aircraft reached the altitude of 400 feet,
- No corrective action was taken by the crew,
- Lack of crew coordination,
- Poor approach planning that led the aircraft descending to a critical altitude,
- Lack of supervision,
- Operational deficiencies.

Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer C-95 Bandeirante near Manaus: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1987 at 0745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Embraer C-95 Bandeirante

Operator:

Registration:

2185

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ponta Pelada – Boa Vista

MSN:

110-114

YOM:

1976

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Circumstances:

Fifteen minutes after takeoff from Ponta Pelada AFB, en route to Boa Vista, one of the engine lost power. The crew elected to return but as he was unable to maintain a safe altitude, he attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed onto a house. All nine occupants were injured and one people in the house was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine problems for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL off Barcelos: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Operator:

Taxi Aéreo João Jorge

Registration:

PT-CGS

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Manaus - Santa Isabel do Rio Negro

MSN:

680-1334-19

YOM:

1963

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Manaus on a taxi flight to Santa Isabel do Rio Negro-Tapuruquara Airport, carrying three technicians from a Mining Company and two pilots. En route, unknown technical problems forced the crew to reduce his altitude and to divert to Barcelos Airport. On approach, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Río Negro River and quickly sank by strong currents. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated CA-10A-1 Catalina near Humaitá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1972 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

6514

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Humaitá - Manaus

MSN:

1917

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

En route from Humaitá to Manaus, both engines failed simultaneously. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a wooded area (jungle) located about 80 km northeast of Humaitá. A passenger and a crew member were killed while eight other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure apparently caused by a faulty fuel supply system.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049-46-21 Constellation near Manaus: 50 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1962 at 0020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

Operator:

Registration:

PP-PDE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Belém – Manaus

MSN:

2047

YOM:

1946

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Circumstances:

The Panair Constellation departed Belém at 02:31 GMT for a 3-hour flight to Manaus-Ponta Pelada Airport. The plane followed the Amber 1 airway and contacted Manaus at 05:04, reporting six minutes out. At 05:19 the flight crew asked Manaus whether the plane's engines could be heard. Manaus replied negative and asked the reason for the question. Nothing more was heard from the flight, which appeared to have crashed 45 km from Manaus. The Constellation named 'Estevao Ribeiro Baiao Parente' was completely destroyed and all 50 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident was not determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso off Parintins

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)

Operator:

Registration:

PP-PCY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Manaus – Belém

MSN:

CV-242

YOM:

1941

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Manaus to Belém, carrying a load of dangerous goods. The airplane caught fire in flight and the captain reduced his altitude and performed an emergency landing on Rio Amazonas off Parintins. All occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Manaus: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1961 at 0525 LT

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

5077

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Circumstances:

Crashed shortly after a night takeoff from Manaus Airport, killing all six crew members.

Crash of a Consolidated C-10A Catalina in Belém: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1954 at 1737 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

6516

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Belém – Manaus

MSN:

1919

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

Four minutes after takeoff from Belém, bound for Manaus, the seaplane suffered an engine failure and crashed. Both pilots were killed while 11 other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated C-10 Catalina in Aquiqui: 16 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

6502

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Belém – Manaus

MSN:

1079

Location:

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Circumstances:

Enroute from Belém to Manaus, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Porto de Moz. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Manaus, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. On December 22, 1947, the wreckage and the dead bodies of all 16 occupants were found near the village of Aquiqui, northwest of Porto de Moz.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-43B off São Paulo de Olivença: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Sikorsky S-43

Operator:

Registration:

PP-PBN

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Iquitos – Manaus

MSN:

4315

Location:

São Paulo de Olivença

Amazonas

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Enroute to Manaus, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Rio Solimões off São Paulo de Olivença. Eleven occupants were killed while three passengers were injured.