Zone
Acre

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Rio Branco: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 2023 at 0721 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operator:
Registration:
PT-MEE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rio Branco – Envira
MSN:
208B-0344
YOM:
1993
Location:
Rio Branco-Plácido de Castro
Acre
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The airplane was on its way from Rio Branco to Envira, carrying two pilots and 10 passengers, among them three women and two children. Shortly after takeoff from Rio Branco-Plácido de Castro Airport, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a dense wooded area, bursting into flames. It was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2M9 in Rio Branco

Date & Time: Jan 26, 2003 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SPJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Belém – Manaus – Rio Branco
MSN:
21236
YOM:
1976
Location:
Rio Branco-Plácido de Castro
Acre
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
89
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7120
Captain / Total hours on type:
5271.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1348
Copilot / Total hours on type:
310
Aircraft flight hours:
54989
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Manaus, the crew started the descent to Rio Branco-Presidente Médici Airport runway 06 in marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to fog. After passing the MDA at 1,150 feet, the crew continued the approach with an excessive rate of descent of 1,222 feet per minute. At a height of 57 feet, the aircraft struck trees located 360 metres short of runway 06 threshold. The engines lost power, the aircraft lost speed and height then struck the ground about 100 metres short of runway. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid on a distance of 600 metres before coming to rest. All 95 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Poor approach configuration on part of the flying crew who continued the approach after passing the MDA at 1,150 feet while the aircraft was not stabilized and the crew did not establish a visual contact with the obstacles on short final. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Following the first impact with trees, branches and pieces of wood entered the engines, causing a loss of power followed by a loss of speed and altitude,
- Complacency on the part of the crew,
- Pressure and stress,
- Visual perception issues,
- Violation of the standard operating procedures,
- Loss of situational awareness,
- Lack of crew resources management,
- Poor approach and landing planning,
- Poor weather conditions,
- Relative low experience of the copilot.
Final Report:
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