2009 Manaus Aerotáxi crash
Encyclopedia
The Manaus Aerotáxi
crash occurred in the state of Amazonas in Brazil
on February 7, 2009. At 13:50 local time, a Manaus Aerotáxi Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante
twin turboprop
, registration PT-SEA, operating as an air taxi
flight from Coari
(SWKO) to Manaus
(SBEG), crashed into the Manacapuru River
about 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) southwest of its destination, killing the two crew and 22 of the 26 passengers on board. The four surviving passengers, who were seated in the rear, managed to escape the sinking plane and swim safely to shore. Among the passengers were eight small children of whom one survived, and a family of 17, two of whom survived.
twin turboprop
aircraft, registration PT-SEA and serial number 110352, was carrying twenty-eight people, though it was certificated for twenty-one. Shortly before the crash, the pilot reportedly attempted to turn back to Coari
due to heavy rainfall, but then had to make an emergency landing in the Manacapuru River
, a tributary of the Amazon located between Santo Antonio
and Montecristo
. Survivors said they saw one of the airplane's propellers stop rotating before the crash.
The plane plunged into the river at a point about 500 meters from an abandoned runway, and 20 minutes away from its intended destination Manaus
, and it submerged to a depth of about five to seven meters. The four survivors (three adults and one nine-year-old child), who were sitting at the rear of the plane, managed to open an emergency exit and reach the surface; they did not suffer major injuries.
Nearly forty rescue workers, including nine scuba divers and civil defense officials, spent the night searching through the jungle for survivors. Rescue crews were able to recover all twenty-four bodies; all deaths were attributed to drowning. The victims were fifteen adult passengers, seven children, and the two crew members.
The newspaper Folha de S. Paulo
reported that the plane was packed with members of one family on their way to Manaus to celebrate the birthday of a relative. Fifteen of the fatal victims and two survivors belonged to this family. Paulo Roberto Pereira, a spokesman for the charter company involved, initially misreported the number of people on board, saying that there had been twenty-two passengers and two crew members aboard but later increased that figure to twenty-six passengers and two crew members. He later confirmed the involvement of eight small children.
aircraft took off overweight, and its left engine failed while enroute. Unable to maintain level flight on a single engine in its overweight condition, the aircraft crashed while attempting to execute an emergency landing.
According to CENIPA, the aircraft departed Coari weighing 549.7 kg above its maximum certificated takeoff weight, with 28 persons on board, including two crew and 26 passengers, while the aircraft was certificated for a maximum of two crew and 19 passengers. There were only 18 passenger seats installed in the aircraft, so eight passengers traveled as "lap children", a situation CENIPA called "inconsistent with reality" (situação que não condizia com a realidade). CENIPA noted that when the pilot in command
contacted Amazonic Center air traffic control
by radio, he reported 20 persons on board, instead of the actual 28.
Manaus Aerotáxi
Manaus Aerotáxi is a passenger airline in Brazil; it operates air taxi services across jungle cities and South America. Its main office is located at Eduardo Gomes International Airport in Manaus.-Accidents and incidents:...
crash occurred in the state of Amazonas in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
on February 7, 2009. At 13:50 local time, a Manaus Aerotáxi Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante
Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
twin turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
, registration PT-SEA, operating as an air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
flight from Coari
Coari
Coari is a Brazilian city , in the Amazon region. It is also one of the largest cities of the Amazonas state. It is the seat of the Territorial Prelature of Coari. The area has reserves of oil and natural gas....
(SWKO) to Manaus
Manaus
Manaus is a city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is situated at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. It is the most populous city of Amazonas, according to the statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and is a popular ecotourist destination....
(SBEG), crashed into the Manacapuru River
Manacapuru
Manacapuru is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Its population was 85,144 and its area is 7,329 km². It is also one of the biggest cities of the state, and shares its name with Rio Manacapuru, a tributary to the Amazon River....
about 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) southwest of its destination, killing the two crew and 22 of the 26 passengers on board. The four surviving passengers, who were seated in the rear, managed to escape the sinking plane and swim safely to shore. Among the passengers were eight small children of whom one survived, and a family of 17, two of whom survived.
Crash
The Embraer EMB-110P1 BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
twin turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
aircraft, registration PT-SEA and serial number 110352, was carrying twenty-eight people, though it was certificated for twenty-one. Shortly before the crash, the pilot reportedly attempted to turn back to Coari
Coari
Coari is a Brazilian city , in the Amazon region. It is also one of the largest cities of the Amazonas state. It is the seat of the Territorial Prelature of Coari. The area has reserves of oil and natural gas....
due to heavy rainfall, but then had to make an emergency landing in the Manacapuru River
Manacapuru
Manacapuru is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Its population was 85,144 and its area is 7,329 km². It is also one of the biggest cities of the state, and shares its name with Rio Manacapuru, a tributary to the Amazon River....
, a tributary of the Amazon located between Santo Antonio
Santo António
-Transportation:Santo António is linked with remote unpaved roads that link to the northern and the southern part of the island as well as to near the mountain....
and Montecristo
Montecristo
Montecristo is a small Italian islet, approximately 4.3 kilometers across at its widest point, located about halfway between Corsica and mainland Italy; south of Elba and west of Giglio. It is part of the Tuscan Archipelago...
. Survivors said they saw one of the airplane's propellers stop rotating before the crash.
The plane plunged into the river at a point about 500 meters from an abandoned runway, and 20 minutes away from its intended destination Manaus
Manaus
Manaus is a city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is situated at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. It is the most populous city of Amazonas, according to the statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and is a popular ecotourist destination....
, and it submerged to a depth of about five to seven meters. The four survivors (three adults and one nine-year-old child), who were sitting at the rear of the plane, managed to open an emergency exit and reach the surface; they did not suffer major injuries.
Nearly forty rescue workers, including nine scuba divers and civil defense officials, spent the night searching through the jungle for survivors. Rescue crews were able to recover all twenty-four bodies; all deaths were attributed to drowning. The victims were fifteen adult passengers, seven children, and the two crew members.
The newspaper Folha de S. Paulo
Folha de S. Paulo
Folha de S. Paulo, known simply as Folha , is a Brazilian daily newspaper founded and continuously published in São Paulo since 19 February 1921. Owned by the Frias de Oliveira family since 1962, it has Brazil's largest circulation since 1986. Alongside O Globo and O Estado de S...
reported that the plane was packed with members of one family on their way to Manaus to celebrate the birthday of a relative. Fifteen of the fatal victims and two survivors belonged to this family. Paulo Roberto Pereira, a spokesman for the charter company involved, initially misreported the number of people on board, saying that there had been twenty-two passengers and two crew members aboard but later increased that figure to twenty-six passengers and two crew members. He later confirmed the involvement of eight small children.
Investigation
Brazil's Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) investigated the crash, and issued its final report on July 30, 2010. CENIPA concluded that the twin engine turbopropTurboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
aircraft took off overweight, and its left engine failed while enroute. Unable to maintain level flight on a single engine in its overweight condition, the aircraft crashed while attempting to execute an emergency landing.
According to CENIPA, the aircraft departed Coari weighing 549.7 kg above its maximum certificated takeoff weight, with 28 persons on board, including two crew and 26 passengers, while the aircraft was certificated for a maximum of two crew and 19 passengers. There were only 18 passenger seats installed in the aircraft, so eight passengers traveled as "lap children", a situation CENIPA called "inconsistent with reality" (situação que não condizia com a realidade). CENIPA noted that when the pilot in command
Pilot in command
The pilot in command of an aircraft is the person aboard the aircraft who is ultimately responsible for its operation and safety during flight. This would be the "captain" in a typical two- or three-pilot flight crew, or "pilot" if there is only one certified and qualified pilot at the controls of...
contacted Amazonic Center air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
by radio, he reported 20 persons on board, instead of the actual 28.
External links
Final Report (Archive) - CENIPACenipa
Cenipa can refer to:*Centro de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos*A species of Canidae...