Rondônia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Parked at Porto Velho Airport, the aircraft was prepared for a cargo flight to Lábrea. On board were one passenger, one pilot and a load of foods. When the pilot started the engines, the left engine caught fire. The fire quickly spread to the left wing. Both occupants evacuated the cabin and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
- The exact cause of the left engine failure and fire remains unknown,
- The pilot was not qualified to fly such type of aircraft,
- The aircraft was not airworthy at the time of the accident,
- The aircraft maintenance was not performed according to published procedures.

Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer EMB-120RT Brasília in Vilhena

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1997 at 0044 LT

Type of aircraft:

Embraer EMB-120 Brasília

Operator:

Registration:

PT-MFC

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Campo Grande - Vilhena

MSN:

120-206

YOM:

1990

Flight number:

PTN126

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9280

Captain / Total hours on type:

2501.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4153

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1988

Circumstances:

En route from Campo Grande to Vilhena, while in cruising altitude, the crew received the last weather bulletin about Vilhena with conditions below minimums. The copilot (under line check on this flight) suggested to divert to the alternate airport but the captain/instructor preferred to attempt an approach via Echo 1 and the NDB for runway 03. If visual contact would not be established at decision height, the crew would divert to the alternate airport. Then the copilot set the decision height at 2,500 feet which was wrong as the correct decision height was fixed at 2,560 feet. Nor the copilot nor the captain realized this mistake prior to start the descent to Vilhena Airport. On approach, the copilot was told by captain to monitor the horizon. He focused his attention on the horizon and failed to monitor the altimer. On his side, the captain elected to establish a visual contact with the ground and the runway light but is was later confirmed that the city of Vilhena suffered a general blackout. On final, the aircraft descended below MDA then struck trees and crashed less than one km from the runway threshold, bursting into flames. All 16 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
- Poor crew coordination,
- Wrong approach configuration,
- The crew's attention was focused on their respective tasks without monitoring the approach configuration, causing the aircraft to descent below the glide,
- The captain/instructor failed to supervise properly the copilot's manoeuvres,
- No approach briefing,
- Lack of visibility due to a general blackout.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 in Porto Velho: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1990

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Operator:

Carlos A. Pascolain

Registration:

PT-JFZ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

560-0185

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on final approach to Porto Velho Airport for unknown reasons. All five occupants were killed. It is believed all occupants were intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P Bandeirante in Vilhena

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1988

Type of aircraft:

Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante

Operator:

Registration:

PT-GJQ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

110-084

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Vilhena Airport, the crew was completing a last turn to join the approach path when the aircraft stalled and crashed about 2 km short of runway threshold. All 13 occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft's speed was too low during the last sharp turn, causing the aircraft to stall and crash.

Crash of a Consolidated C-10A Catalina near Guajará-Mirim: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1968 at 1717 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

6521

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Forte Principe da Beira – Guajará-Mirim

MSN:

1784

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The seaplane was completing a flight from Forte Principe da Beira to Guajará-Mirim within Rondônia State on behalf of the Correio Nacional. While approaching Guajará-Mirim, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a jungle located 40 km from its intended destination. The wreckage was found two days later and 19 people were evacuated to local hospital while four others were killed in the accident.

Probable cause:

Engine problems in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando near Vilhena

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

PP-BTI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

30549

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances on a road located 40 km away from Vilhena. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO in Porto Velho

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

PP-PEE

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

7396

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

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.