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Crash of a Boeing 737-2M9 in Rio Branco

Date & Time: Jan 26, 2003 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SPJ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Belém – Manaus – Rio Branco
MSN:
21236
YOM:
1976
Country:
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:

Crash of an Embraer EMB-120ER Brasília in Rio Branco: 23 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 2002 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-WRQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cruzeiro do Sul – Tarauacá – Rio Branco
MSN:
120-043
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
RLE4823
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total flying hours:
9315
Captain / Total hours on type:
4560.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4242
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3585
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Tarauacá, the crew started the descent to Rio Branco-Presidente Médici Airport in limited visibility due to the night and rain falls. On final, the aircraft descended below the MDA and, at a speed of 130 knots, struck the ground and crashed in a field located 4 km short of runway 06. The aircraft was totally destroyed. Eight passengers were rescued while 23 other occupants were killed, among them the Brazilian politician Ildefonço Cardeiro.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the approach in poor weather conditions and descended below the MDA until the aircraft, in a flaps and gear down configuration, impacted ground. The following contributing factors were identified:
- A difference of 70 feet in the settings was noted between both pilot's altimeters,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Complacency on part of the flying crew caused several deviations from procedures during the approach,
- Lack of crew resources management,
- The crew failed to check the altitude during the final stage of the approach,
- Poor weather conditions.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-JBQ
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Porto Velho – Rio Branco
MSN:
25-119
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
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-46D-10-CU Commando in Rio Branco

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTP
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
33015
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Rio Branco Airport, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Rio Branco: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1956
Operator:
Registration:
2062
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20216
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rio Branco Airport, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed on the bank of the Río Acre. Four crew members were killed while 22 other occupants were evacuated.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson II in Rio Branco

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PP-ETD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7406
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff in Rio Branco Airport. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. They were performing a cargo flight on behalf of the Governo do Acre (Governement of the State of Acre).