Belém – Manaus – Rio Branco

On January 26, 2003 at 02:15 PM, Belém – Manaus – Rio Branco experienced a crash involving Boeing 737-200, operated by VASP - Viação Aérea de São Paulo, with the event recorded near Rio Branco-Plácido de Castro 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.

95 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 95 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 89, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Manaus, the crew started the descent to Rio Branco-Presidente Médici Airport runway 06 in marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to fog. After passing the MDA at 1,150 feet, the crew continued the approach with an excessive rate of descent of 1,222 feet per minute. At a height of 57 feet, the aircraft struck trees located 360 metres short of runway 06 threshold. The engines lost power, the aircraft lost speed and height then struck the ground about 100 metres short of runway. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid on a distance of 600 metres before coming to rest. All 95 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration PP-SPJ, MSN 21236, year of manufacture 1976.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -10.3245°, -67.2124°.