Rio Branco | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine aircraft departed Rio Branco with four passengers and one pilot on board. The goal of the flight was to carry four Japanese journalists who wanted to perform aerial views from various tribes located in the region of Santa Rosa do Purus. About 30 minutes into the flight, an oil leak occurred on the left engine that lost power. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed near Bujari, about 39 km from Rio Branco. The wreckage was found near motorway BR364 and all five occupants were slightly injured.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
- It is likely that the pilot did not use the controls properly to maintain an adequate control of the airplane in a single-engine configuration while the airplane was operated within weight and balance limits,
- The left propeller retainer had been replaced by similar but not original equipment, using glue to ensure its tightness, which was non compliant with the engine manufacturer's procedures,
- The aircraft maintenance documents were not kept up to date by the operator,
- Poor flight preparation on the part of the pilot who did not notice that the maintenance documents were not up to date,
- The operator was not compliant with the current Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority legislation.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-2A1C in Cruzeiro do Sul: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1992 at 0605 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

PP-SND

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Rio Branco - Cruzeiro do Sul

MSN:

21188

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4581

Captain / Total hours on type:

3081.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2437

Copilot / Total hours on type:

337

Aircraft flight hours:

31980

Circumstances:

While descending to Cruzeiro do Sul Airport by night and good weather conditions, the crew encountered problems with the intermittent activation of a warning light in the instrument panel, warning them of a fire in the cargo compartment. On final approach, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located in hilly terrain. The wreckage was found 15 km from runway 10 threshold and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The following findings were reported:
a. Human Factor
(1) Physiological Aspect
- There was no evidence of this aspect contributing to the occurrence of the accident.
(2) Psychological Aspect - Contributed
- The psychological aspect contributed through the generation of a high level of anxiety to perform the landing and in the diversion of the focus of attention during the approach manoeuvres to land.
- The psychological aspect was influenced by the activation of the smoke alarm which generated an increase in the workload on board.
b. Material Factor
- There were no indications that this factor contributed to the accident.
c. Operational Factor
(1) Deficient Instruction
- Although the instruction was carried out in accordance with what the standards recommend, the failures that contributed to the accident are characteristic of lack of experience in facing abnormalities simultaneously with the maintenance of flight control. Such failures could be avoided with more adequate simulator instructions and training involving the cockpit management aspects.
(2) Poor Maintenance - Undetermined .
- It was not possible to determine the cause of the activation of the 'Aft Cargo Smoke' alarm and whether the maintenance services contributed to this occurrence.
(3) Deficient Cockpit Coordination
- Inadequate performance of the duties assigned to each crew member. The procedures foreseen for the execution of descent by instrument have been modified and some have been deleted depending on the appearance of a complicator element (smoke alarm).
(4) Influence of the environment
- The dark night contributed to the creation of the 'black hole' phenomenon, or 'background figure', making it difficult to perceive external references for a possible identification of the vertical distance of the aircraft from the ground.
(5) Deficient Oversight
- The supervision, at cockpit level, contributed to the accident by the inadequate management of the resources available for the flight in the cockpit.
- Company level supervision contributed to the accident by not identifying the need for cockpit management training and providing it to the crew involved.
- Supervision, at company level, was also inadequate when climbing to the same mission, two pilots unfamiliar with the airplane to be used and in night operation.
(6) Other Operational Aspects
- The failure to comply with several 'Callouts', the non-use of the radio altimeter and the inadequate use of the 'altitude alert', as an aid to the accomplishment of the descent procedure, contributed to the occurrence of the accident.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland C-115 Buffalo in Rio Branco

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1978

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo

Operator:

Registration:

2358

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Rio Branco – Cruzeiro do Sul

MSN:

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a flight from Rio Branco to Cruzeiro do Sul, carrying five tons of rice and beans. In unclear circumstances, it struck a truck while taking off and the decision to return was taken. One of the main landing gear could not be lowered so the crew burned the fuel and jettisoned 30 sacks of cargo. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049 Constellation near Cruzeiro do Sul: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

Operator:

Amazonense Importação e Exportação

Registration:

PP-PDG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cruzeiro do Sul - Rio Branco

MSN:

2037

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Because of a lack of fuel at Cruzeiro do Sul Airport, the airplane was grounded for four days. Eventually, two fuel trucks were dispatched to the airport and the aircraft could be refueled directly from the trucks. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the engine n°3 failed, followed 10 minutes later by a second engine. Some of the cargo was jettisoned but the aircraft was still losing altitude. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing on the Cruzeiro do Sul - Tarauacá highway when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. Nine occupants were killed, including all three crew members, and nine other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. It was later confirmed that another aircraft that had been refueled just after PP-PDG had to reject its takeoff because of an engine failure.

Probable cause:

Refueling directly from the trucks without allowing sufficient time for the fuel to settle.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-414A in Sena Madureira: 32 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1971 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

PP-CBV

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Sena Madureira - Rio Branco

MSN:

4977

YOM:

1943

Flight number:

SC332

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Sena Madureira Airport, while climbing, the pilot declared an emergency and elected to return following an engine failure. He completed a circuit at low altitude and while completing a turn to the right, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 32 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb.

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.