São José dos Campos | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed São Paulo-Congonhas Airport on a positioning flight to São José dos Campos. While descending to São José dos Campos, the captain led the controls to the copilot who was still under instruction. On final, the aircraft was too high on the glide. The captain took over controls but his reaction was excessive. The aircraft suddenly rolled to the right, causing the right wing to struck the ground few dozen metres short of runway 15 threshold. The aircraft landed and came to rest on the main runway. Both pilots evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The captain did not conduct a preflight briefing and then improvised during the descent by deciding to leave the controls to the copilot while he was still under instruction.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The copilot who was pilot-in-command on final was in his initial training process,
- The captain authorized the copilot to be the PIC while he was still under initial training,
- The captain was not qualified to operate as an instructor,
- The captain did not make any simulator training for more than two years,
- The copilot had never completed any simulator training since the beginning of his training,
- Lack of crew coordination,
- Poor judgment on part of the captain.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 500 Citation I in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1997 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 500 Citation

Operator:

Registration:

PT-ILJ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rio de Janeiro – São José dos Campos

MSN:

500-0057

YOM:

1973

Location:

Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont

Rio de Janeiro

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, the captain realized that all conditions were not met for a safe takeoff and decided to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest in the Guanabara Bay. All five occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Embraer XC-95B Bandeirante in Queluz: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1996 at 0947 LT

Type of aircraft:

Embraer C-95 Bandeirante

Operator:

Registration:

2315

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

São José dos Campos - São José dos Campos

MSN:

110-289

YOM:

1980

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed São José dos Campos Airport at 0840LT on a test flight on behalf of the Brazilian Aeronautics Institute of Technology. On board were six passengers and two pilots. About an hour into the flight, the aircraft struck a mountain located near Queluz. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Crash of an Embraer VC-97 Brasilía in São José dos Campos: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1988 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Embraer EMB-120 Brasília

Operator:

Registration:

2001

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

São José dos Campos -São José dos Campos

MSN:

120-029

YOM:

1987

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at São José dos Campos Airport. While circling with one engine out, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that crashed near the runway. Five occupants were killed and four others were injured.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-120RT Brasília near Mantiqueira: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1986 at 1515 LT

Type of aircraft:

Embraer EMB-120 Brasília

Operator:

Registration:

N219AS

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

São Jose dos Campos - Brasília - Manaus - Caracas - Fort Lauderdale - Atlanta

MSN:

120-019

YOM:

1986

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

Brand new, the aircraft was took over by ASA crew to be delivered to Atlanta, Georgia. He was cleared by the São José Tower controller to follow the 010° radial to the SJC VOR, and cross the VOR at 5,000 feet. Some time after takeoff São José Tower instructed the flight to climb to FL280 out of 5,000 feet and intercept the 352 radial of the SJC VOR. The flight crew failed to follow the instructions and continued at an altitude of 5,000 feet. In limited visibility due to low clouds, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Mantiqueira Mountain Range. The wreckage was found 700 feet below the summit. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The following findings were reported:
- The pilots did not plan the flight properly, though there was an AIS room with the necessary sources of consultation. Maintaining altitude of 5000 feet for too long a time, subject to the minimum safe altitudes in the are area in the available publications, and the discrepancies found in the flight plan confirm this thesis.
- The pilot did not properly collated the guidelines issued by the tower and remained incompatible altitude with instructions issued by the control.
- There are strong indications that the flight proceeded under instrument flight conditions.
- There was no proper coordination between the ACC BS and TWR SJ regarding the transference and control of the air traffic nor did TWR SJ requested receipt of the messages.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor in Liberdade do Sul: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1968 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Belo Horizonte – São José dos Campos

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the pilot encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field in Liberdade do Sul. A passenger was rescued while three other occupants were killed.