Country
Brazil
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Ceará

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Fortaleza

Date & Time: Jul 2, 2002 at 1640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Shrike Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
PT-KZD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Fortaleza - Fortaleza
MSN:
500-3140
YOM:
1972
Location:
Fortaleza-Pinto Martins
Ceará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2900.00
Aircraft flight hours:
9960
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Fortaleza-Pinto Martins Airport on a local post maintenance test flight (50 hours), carrying two passengers and one pilot. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the power on the left engine fluctuated. The pilot modified the position of the fuel selector but the situation did not change. As the aircraft was losing height, the pilot shut down the left engine and feathered its propeller when the aircraft rolled to the left, causing the left wing to struck a concrete wall. Out of control, the aircraft struck the roof of a house, then a second one and eventually crashed on a third residence. All three occupants were injured as well as one people on the ground.
Probable cause:
The fuel pump and the servo-injectors had faults which certainly contributed to the accident as the left engine was not properly supplied with fuel.
Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer EMB-120RT Brasília in Fortaleza: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1998 at 0851 LT
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-120 Brasília
Operator:
Capital Taxi Aéreo
Registration:
PT-WKH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Teresina - Fortaleza
MSN:
120-076
YOM:
1988
Location:
Fortaleza-Pinto Martins
Ceará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
9100
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5100
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1300
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Teresina to Fortaleza, carrying one passenger, two pilots and a load of 2,5 tons of medicines. On final approach to Fortaleza-Pinto Martins Airport, the aircraft was approaching at an excessive speed when flaps and landing gear were selected down. The aircraft became unstable and the captain who was the pilot-in-command continued the approach and the copilot did not intervene to correct the situation. On final, the thrust levers were positioned below the flight idle position, causing the aircraft to lose speed and to enter a right bank. It struck power cables and eventually crashed onto a house. The aircraft and the house were destroyed. The copilot was seriously injured while both other occupants and one people on the ground were killed. Seven other people on the ground were injured. Few hours later, the copilot died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The following factors were identified:
- In the individual aspect, there were signs of concern of the crew member with prolonged waiting caused by the local traffic in Fortaleza and by another traffic that was approaching the aerodrome and, because of this, accelerated the procedure of the final approach, descending at high speed and triggering the other operational failures that led to the accident; in the same way, there were signs of excessive self-confidence by the pilot.
- The operator's delay in submitting the requested documentation for the aircraft reduced the credibility of the submitted material. The possibility that the secondary stop was deactivated, despite statements to the contrary by a mechanic, would have been caused by inadequate participation of maintenance personnel in the services performed and by non-compliance with the planned AD.
- There are reports from several pilots about this commander's habits of performing unforeseen procedures, including some that avoided flying with him. It was not researched if the other crew members took this fact to the company's management. The company's response was not researched if it was aware of these operational deviations.
- The pilot misused the resources available in the operation of the aircraft, due to ineffective management of the tasks related to the PF and PNF and the noncompliance with operational rules.
- The PNF did not advise the PF during the approach. The PNF accepted the non-stabilized approach and did not react to reverse the situation.
- The crew made the approach above the glide slope and at high speed; thought inappropriately that it could proceed in those conditions and that there would be ways to reduce the speed and make the landing.
- The crew disobeyed the aircraft's operating rules by performing a destabilized approach outside the envelope recommended by the manufacturer and by placing the power levers below the flight idle position.
Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer P-95 Bandeirante off Fortaleza: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1985 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Embraer C-95 Bandeirante
Operator:
Registration:
7053
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fortaleza - Fortaleza
MSN:
110-159
YOM:
1977
Location:
Fortaleza
Ceará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Fortaleza Airport at 0800LT with four crew members on board, taking part to a combined exercise called 'Costeirex Nordeste 85' with the Brazilian Navy. At 1020LT, while flying at a very low height above the sea, one of the wing struck the water surface. The aircraft crashed and sank by a depth of 29 meters about 18 NM off Mucuripe, a district of Fortaleza. All four crew members were killed. One of the wing was found 500 meters from the main wreckage.
Crew:
Cpt Gildo Zanin Pistolato,
Sgt Renato Ribeiro do Santos,
Lt Marcelo Luis Lemos,
Vinicius Santos do Nascimento.

Crash of a Boeing 727-212 near Fortaleza: 137 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1982 at 0225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-200
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SRK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro – Fortaleza
MSN:
21347
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
VP168
Location:
Fortaleza
Ceará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
128
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
137
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport, the crew initiated a night descent to Fortaleza-Pinto Martins Airport, Ceará. ATC cleared the flight to descent to 5,000 feet and while facing the city lights, the captain descended below the prescribed altitude of 5,000 feet. Despite two altitude alert system warnings and the copilot's warning about mountains ahead, the captain continued to descend until the aircraft struck a wooded mountain located in the Aratanha Mountain Range, some 26 km southwest of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 137 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the captain continued the descent below 5,000 feet as instructed by ATC and ignored GPWS and pilot warnings.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in Paracuru: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
PT-DMN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Paracuru
Ceará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in a local aerial photogrammetry mission, taking part to the Rio Acaraú project. In flight, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area. The airplane was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed, two crew members and two engineers. Henrique Presgrave, the navigator, was one of the co-founder of Prospec.
Crew:
Alfredo Sender, pilot,
Henrique Presgrave, navigator.
Passengers:
José de Almeida,
John Mirstik.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an aileron failure in flight.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Fortaleza: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1954 at 1440 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
5129
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Fortaleza - Fortaleza
Location:
Fortaleza
Ceará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 31 at Fortaleza Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the district of Antônio Berezza, about 6 km northwest of the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an engine explosion during initial climb.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Fortaleza: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1951 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
5104
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fortaleza - Fortaleza
Location:
Fortaleza
Ceará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight consisting of an aerial attack simulation. On final approach, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Serra de Baturite: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1950 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
5107
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Recife – Fortaleza
Location:
Serra de Baturite
Ceará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While cruising by night from Recife to Fortaleza, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain in Serra de Baturite and was destroyed. All nine occupants, among them one civilian, were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell off Paracuru: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1950
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Paracuru
Ceará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea about 50 meters off shore. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.

Crash of Lockheed C-60A LodeStar in Fortaleza

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
2000
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18-2237
YOM:
1942
Location:
Fortaleza
Ceará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Fortaleza. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants, among them General Silva Paranhos, were injured.
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