Crash of an Embraer C-95C Bandeirante near Guaratinguetá: 16 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1991 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2333
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Brasília - Guaratinguetá
MSN:
110-473
YOM:
1988
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Brasília at 0600LT on a flight to Guaratinguetá, carrying high ranking officers who should take part to a military parade. On approach to Guaratinguetá Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Pico dos Marins located 33 km northeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue the descent under VFR mode in IMC conditions. It was reported that the wrong approach configuration adopted by the crew caused the aircraft to enter a valley which was not mentioned on approach charts. Due to poor visibility because of low clouds, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain struck by the aircraft. The crew was misled by external factors inherent to weather conditions.

Crash of a Learjet 25D in Brasilía: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-LLL
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Uberaba - Brasilía
MSN:
25-258
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Brasilía Airport, the aircraft crashed 8 km short of runway. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Learjet 25C in Belo Horizonte: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1991 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-KKV
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brasília – Belo Horizonte
MSN:
25-172
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Belo Horizonte-Pampulha Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. On short final, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near a motorway located few hundred meters short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were injured. Three minutes prior to the accident, the crew reported to ATC that all was ok on board.

Crash of a BAe VU-93 in Carajás: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1987 at 1908 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2129
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Carajás – Brasília
MSN:
25290
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft lost height and crashed in a huge explosion. All nine occupants were killed, among them Marcos de Barros Freire, Brazilian minister of Agrarian Reform.

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

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1986 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N219AS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
São Jose dos Campos - Brasília - Manaus - Caracas - Fort Lauderdale - Atlanta
MSN:
120-019
YOM:
1986
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
12
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 Boeing 707-323B in Brasília

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N8434
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brasília – Miami – New York
MSN:
20173
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
52
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was returning to the US with eight crew members and 52 passengers, all of them were journalists covering the official visit of the US President Ronald Reagan in Brazil. After takeoff, during initial climb, the left main gear struck the ILS antenna. The captain informed ATC about the situation and was cleared to return for an emergency. On approach, both main gears remained jammed in their wheel well and only the nose gear was down and locked. The airplane landed on its belly and slid for few dozen meters before coming to rest. All 60 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2A1 in Brasília: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SMY
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Paulo – Brasília
MSN:
20970
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
VP234
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
112
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The approach to Brasília was initiated in poor visibility due to rain falls. On short final, the crew failed to realize that the aircraft attitude was wrong. In a nose-down attitude, the aircraft landed hard, causing the nose gear to collapse. The airplane went out of control, veered of runway and came to rest, broken in two. Two passengers were killed, 20 occupants were injured and 96 others escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew suffered an optical illusion on short final.

Crash of a BAe VU-93 in Brasília

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2122
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brasília - Brasília
MSN:
25166
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Brasília Airport when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Learjet 25C in São Paulo

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1978 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-JDX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Paulo – Brasília
MSN:
25-131
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on a wet runway 34, the left engine failed. The crew abandoned the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, went down an embankment, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen meters further. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damage beyond repair. All four passengers were members of the Brazilian government, among them secretary of finances.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S off Rio de Janeiro: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1974 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-DOZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Brasilia
MSN:
A-450
YOM:
1948
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After a night takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames into the Guanabara Bay few dozen yards offshore. Both crew members were killed. It was reported the aircraft caught fire shortly after rotation for unknown reason.