Rio Branco – Cruzeiro do Sul

On March 16, 1978 at 12:00 AM, Rio Branco – Cruzeiro do Sul experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo, operated by Brazilian Air Force - Força Aérea Brasileira, with the event recorded near Rio Branco Acre.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. The airplane was completing a flight from Rio Branco to Cruzeiro do Sul, carrying five tons of rice and beans. In unclear circumstances, it struck a truck while taking off and the decision to return was taken. One of the main landing gear could not be lowered so the crew burned the fuel and jettisoned 30 sacks of cargo. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aircraft reference details include registration 2358, MSN 28, year of manufacture 1968.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -9.9840°, -67.7997°.