ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 727-212 PP-SRK Serra de Pacatuba, CE
ASN logo
 

Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Tuesday 8 June 1982
Time:02:25
Type:Silhouette image of generic B722 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Boeing 727-212
Operator:VASP - Viação Aérea São Paulo
Registration: PP-SRK
MSN: 21347/1282
First flight: 1977-07-23 (4 years 11 months)
Engines: 3 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17
Crew:Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9
Passengers:Fatalities: 128 / Occupants: 128
Total:Fatalities: 137 / Occupants: 137
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Serra de Pacatuba, CE (   Brazil)
Crash site elevation: 594 m (1949 feet) amsl
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport, RJ (GIG/SBGL), Brazil
Destination airport:Fortaleza-Pinto Martins Airport, CE (FOR/SBFZ), Brazil
Flightnumber:VP168
Narrative:
VASP Flight 168 departed São Paulo for a flight to Fortaleza, with an intermediate stop at Rio de Janeiro (GIG). The first leg of the flight was uneventful. As the flight approached Fortaleza, the crew were cleared to descend from their cruising altitude of FL330 to FL50 (5000 feet). In night-time conditions with the bright lights of the city in front, the captain descended below 5000 feet. Despite two altitude alert system warnings and the co-pilot's warning of the mountains ahead, the captain continued to descend below the minimum descend altitude. The Boeing then struck a wooded mountainside at 1950 feet.

Probable Cause:

Human Factor:
It contributed to the extent that during the descent the Commander concentrated his attention on the illuminated city, disconnecting himself from other sensory impulses, such as observation of distance and altitude.
Material Factor: Did not contribute.
Operational Factor:
Contributed for the reasons below:
- Poor planning for the descent.
- Non-observance of air traffic rules (non-compliance with control instructions, non-observance of the minimum safety altitude and non-maintenance of the speed foreseen for terminal flight below 10,000 feet). Therefore, serious flight indiscipline.
- lack of cabin discipline.
- Non-compliance with company operating standards.

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: CENIPA Brazil
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 59 days (2 months)
Accident number: final report
Download report: Final report

Classification:

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain

Photos

photo of Boeing-727-212-PP-SRK
accident date: 08-06-1982
type: Boeing 727-212
registration: PP-SRK
 

Aircraft history
date registration operator remarks
23 JUL 1977 9V-SGA Singapore Airlines
06 JUN 1980 PP-SRK VASP

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport, RJ to Fortaleza-Pinto Martins Airport, CE as the crow flies is 2169 km (1355 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: languages

Share

Boeing 727

  • 1832 built
  • 37th loss
  • 31st fatal accident
  • 5th worst accident (at the time)
  • 12th worst accident (currently)
» safety profile

 Brazil
  • The worst accident (at the time)
  • 3rd worst accident (currently)
» safety profile

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org