Cruzeiro do Sul – Tarauacá – Rio Branco

On August 30, 2002 at 06:00 PM, Cruzeiro do Sul – Tarauacá – Rio Branco experienced a crash involving Embraer EMB-120 Brasília, operated by Rico Linhas Aéreas - Rondonia Importaçao e Comercio, with the event recorded near Rio Branco-Presidente Médici Acre.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

31 people were known to be on board, 23 fatalities were recorded, 8 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 74.2%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 28, passenger fatalities: 20, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Tarauacá, the crew started the descent to Rio Branco-Presidente Médici Airport in limited visibility due to the night and rain falls. On final, the aircraft descended below the MDA and, at a speed of 130 knots, struck the ground and crashed in a field located 4 km short of runway 06. The aircraft was totally destroyed. Eight passengers were rescued while 23 other occupants were killed, among them the Brazilian politician Ildefonço Cardeiro.

Aircraft reference details include registration PT-WRQ, MSN 120-043, year of manufacture 1987.