Porto Velho | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Parked at Porto Velho Airport, the aircraft was prepared for a cargo flight to Lábrea. On board were one passenger, one pilot and a load of foods. When the pilot started the engines, the left engine caught fire. The fire quickly spread to the left wing. Both occupants evacuated the cabin and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
- The exact cause of the left engine failure and fire remains unknown,
- The pilot was not qualified to fly such type of aircraft,
- The aircraft was not airworthy at the time of the accident,
- The aircraft maintenance was not performed according to published procedures.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 in Porto Velho: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1990

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Operator:

Carlos A. Pascolain

Registration:

PT-JFZ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

560-0185

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on final approach to Porto Velho Airport for unknown reasons. All five occupants were killed. It is believed all occupants were intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Learjet 25B in Rio Branco: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 25

Operator:

Registration:

PT-JBQ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Porto Velho – Rio Branco

MSN:

25-119

YOM:

1973

Location:

Rio Branco-Presidente Médici

Acre

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Rio Branco-Presidente Médici Airport was initiated in poor weather conditions. On final approach in rain falls, the crew was unable to locate the unlighted runway and decided to initiate a go-around. A second approach was abandoned few minutes later for the same reasons. During a third attempt to land, the airplane stalled and crashed 5 km from the airport. It was destroyed on impact and all 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of both engines on final approach due to fuel exhaustion following three unsuccessful approaches. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor weather conditions,
- Poor visibility,
- Poor flight planning,
- Lack of Company assistance,
- Operational deficiencies,
- Infrastructures deficiencies.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Barra do Bugres: 13 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1965 at 0700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

PP-BTH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cuiabá – Porto Velho

MSN:

30571

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7857

Captain / Total hours on type:

1357.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2816

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1516

Aircraft flight hours:

27761

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Cuiabá-Marechal Rondon Airport at 1021 GNT, for Porto Velho with an IFR flight plan. At the outskirts of Barra do Bugres about 30 minutes after take-off, the aircraft turned back towards Cuiabá with its left engine on fire. While over Buracao, its left wing and engine broke away from the fuselage and it crashed to the ground out of control. All 13 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident was a structural failure. Bolts of the No. 8 cylinder, left engine, fractured. Contributing factors were defective fire detection and fire extinguishing systems.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO in Porto Velho

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

PP-PEE

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

7396

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK near Tabajara

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1964 at 1530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

PP-BTU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Rio Branco – Porto Velho

MSN:

13790/25235

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Rio Branco to Porto Velho, the pilot lost his sens of orientation and his way to Porto Velho. Eventually, he decided to attempt an emergency landing in an isolated area located 40 km west of Tabajara. All 34 occupants survived the accident and were rescued eight days later. The aircraft was written off. The crash site is about 160 km east of Porto Velho so not on the route from Rio Branco to Porto Velho.