Viaçao Cometa

Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1

The twin engine airplane departed Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont at 1402LT on a positioning flight to Jacarepaguá Airport located 23 km southwest from Santos Dumont Airport. After takeoff, the copilot informed ATC he maintained the altitude of 1,500 feet via route Bravo until the coast. Shortly later, while cruising in clouds at an altitude of 1,380 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Morro da Taquara located in the Tijuca National Park. The wreckage was found near Alto da Boa Vista and both pilots were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as marginal with low ceiling above the mountainous area.