Belo Horizonte – Juiz de Fora

On June 11, 2003 at 04:00 PM, Belo Horizonte – Juiz de Fora experienced a crash involving Embraer EMB-820 Navajo/Carajá, operated by Astro Taxi Aéreo, with the event recorded near Belo Horizonte-Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade Minas Gerais.

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

4 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The twin engine aircraft departed Belo Horizonte-Pampulha Airport at 1522LT on a taxi flight to Juiz de Fora, carrying two pilots, two passengers and a load of valuables. While cruising about 35 nm south of Belo Horizonte, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines and elected to return for an emergency landing. On approach to runway 13, the aircraft was too high and the crew was cleared to make a 360 turn to reduce his altitude. Doing so and after he completed 270° of this turn, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed 2 km short of runway, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration PT-EHH, MSN 820-044, year of manufacture 1977.