Investigation Summary
The accident occurred at approximately 06:05 local time during the final stages of a flight from Eirunepé to Tabatinga. The aircraft, registration PT-LBV (MSN 536), was operating in conditions of significantly reduced visibility due to dense fog. Compounding the weather challenges, a general electrical failure at Tabatinga International Airport had rendered the runway and approach lighting systems inoperative, and the facility lacked an emergency generator. Despite these conditions and the lack of ground-based landing aids, the crew attempted a visual approach rather than diverting to the nearby Leticia Airport, likely influenced by a low fuel state. The aircraft descended below the safe glide path, struck a pole, and crashed into a parking lot. The impact destroyed the airframe and triggered a fire, leaving no survivors among the 40 passengers and 4 crew members.
Final Conclusions
The primary cause of the accident was Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) resulting from the crew's decision to attempt a visual approach in meteorological conditions well below minimums. A critical contributing factor was a general electrical failure at the airport which disabled all runway and approach lights. According to the investigation, the crew felt pressured to continue the approach under these hazardous conditions, rather than diverting to Leticia, due to the aircraft's low fuel state and the prevailing poor weather across the region.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Altimeter
The crew likely misjudged their height above the terrain due to the lack of visual cues in the fog.
Navigational Aids
The limited ground-based infrastructure at Tabatinga at the time contributed to the difficulty of the night approach.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was originally built in 1967 for Mohawk Airlines in the United States (MSN 536).
- 02TABA acquired the aircraft in June 1981, one year before the accident.
- 03A general electrical failure at the airport had disabled all runway and approach lights at the time of the accident.
- 04The aircraft was reportedly short on fuel, which influenced the decision to attempt a landing in poor visibility.
- 05The aircraft collided with a pole before crashing into a parking lot.
- 06All 44 people on board were killed, making it a total loss of life.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Approach Minimums Enforcement
The accident reinforced the necessity for strict adherence to published minimum descent altitudes, especially in remote regions with high humidity and frequent fog.
Infrastructure Improvements
Following the crash, recommendations were made to improve lighting and navigational aids at regional Amazonian airports to support safer night operations.