Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 21 March 1989
Aircraft Type: Boeing 707-349C
Owner/operator: Transbrasil, lsf Omega Air Inc
Registration Number: PT-TCS
Location: 2,7 km W of S?o Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, SP (GRU) – ÿ Brazil
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Pilot and Flight EngineerPilot and Flight Engineer
Investigating Agency: CENIPACENIPA
Category: Accident
On March 14, 1970, a Boeing 707-300 cargo plane carrying 26 tons of electronic equipment experienced a catastrophic crash near Rua Rua Regente Feij¢ and Rua Sandovalina in Jardim Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The aircraft, operated by Flying Tigers, was destined for Guarulhos Airport. The flight crew consisted of a captain, an instructor, and a flight engineer. The flight began at 11:30 UTC and arrived at approximately 15:00 UTC (12:00 hours local time), though the arrival was delayed due to a runway closure. During the approach to runway 09R, the instructor initiated a rapid descent, selecting full flaps and speedbrakes. This abrupt maneuver resulted in a loss of control, leading to a catastrophic impact with a building. Three crew members and twenty-two individuals on the ground were killed. The aircraft crashed into a residential area, causing significant damage and fire. Contributing factors included a combination of human factors, material factors, operational factors, and pilot error.On March 14, 1970, a Boeing 707-300 cargo plane carrying 26 tons of electronic equipment experienced a catastrophic crash near Rua Rua Regente Feij¢ and Rua Sandovalina in Jardim Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The aircraft, operated by Flying Tigers, was destined for Guarulhos Airport. The flight crew consisted of a captain, an instructor, and a flight engineer. The flight began at 11:30 UTC and arrived at approximately 15:00 UTC (12:00 hours local time), though the arrival was delayed due to a runway closure. During the approach to runway 09R, the instructor initiated a rapid descent, selecting full flaps and speedbrakes. This abrupt maneuver resulted in a loss of control, leading to a catastrophic impact with a building. Three crew members and twenty-two individuals on the ground were killed. The aircraft crashed into a residential area, causing significant damage and fire. Contributing factors included a combination of human factors, material factors, operational factors, and pilot error.

Description

The Boeing 707-300 cargo plane departed Manaus, Brazil on a domestic flight to S?o Paulo-Guarulhos Airport carrying 26 tons of electronic equipment. The flight crew consisted of a captain under training, an instructor and a flight engineer. The flight took off at 11:30 UTC and arrived in near Guarulhos Airport shortly before 15:00 UTC (12:00 hours local time). Since an aircraft had become immobilised on runway 09L, the aircraft was cleared for an approach to runway 09R. However, this runway was going to close for maintenance at 15:00 UTC. A rushed high speed approach was flown. About 14:55 UTC the instructor selected full flaps and speedbrakes, leading to a loss of control. The left wing of the aircraft struck a building. The aircraft crashed into a residential area near the intersection of Rua Rua Regente Feij¢ and Rua Sandovalina in the Jardim Ipanema neighborhood and burst into flames. Three crew members and 22 persons on the ground were killed. This 707 was used in the 1970 movie “Airport” when it was still owned by Flying Tigers. Contributing factors a. Human Factor (1) Psychological aspect – the imminent interruption of operations in the aerodrome that would be used for landing the aircraft stimulated the instructor to make a hurried descent, characterizing a potential state of anxiety. (2) Physiological aspect – there are indications that it contributed to fatigue b. Material Factor – Did not contribute c. Operational Factor – It was a determining factor for the occurrence of the accident through the following aspects: (1) Poor instruction – The instruction given to the pilot was discontinued and the local flight did not comply with the minima provided in RAC 3211. (2) Poor supervision – The failures found in the instruction were due to poor supervision of the Company’s operations sector. (3) Poor cockpit coordination – During the descent procedure when working check list, the instructor broke the sequence of standardized procedures, thus stopping the instruction and consequently, the student’s core handling of the flight – The instructor, without the student being informed beforehand, commanded the flaps together with the “speed brake”. This action configured an abnormal attitude that contributed, without the pilots identifying, to the loss of control of the aircraft – The flight engineer also failed to meet the checklist items. (4) Pilot factor caused by other operational factors – The instructor did not follow the standardization of the instruction, when he executed a decision in a hurry. – The crew did not respond to the sinking and pull up warnings (5) Pilot factor caused by error in the application of flight controls – The crew did not operate in accordance with the operational standard issued by the manufacturer and endorsed by the company. (6) Other (Air Traffic Control) – The air traffic controller contributed to the increase of the crew anxiety level when the controller used non standard phraseology.

Primary Cause

Poor instruction and inadequate supervision combined with a failure to adhere to established procedures and checklists, leading to a rapid and uncontrolled descent.Poor instruction and inadequate supervision combined with a failure to adhere to established procedures and checklists, leading to a rapid and uncontrolled descent.

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