Recife - Belém

On March 14, 1970 at 05:30 PM, Recife - Belém experienced a crash involving Fairchild-Hiller FH-227, operated by Paraense Transportes Aéreos, with the event recorded near Belém-Val de Cans-Júlio Cezar Ribeiro Pará.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

40 people were known to be on board, 38 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 95.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 35, passenger fatalities: 34, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The approach to Belém-Val-de-Cans-Júlio Cezar Ribeiro Airport was initiated in poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls. While completing a last turn to join the approach path of runway 06, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when one of the wing struck the water surface. The airplane crashed into the Guajará Bay, about 800 meters short of runway 06 threshold. A crew member and a passenger were rescued while 38 other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration PP-BUF, MSN 556, year of manufacture 1967.