You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Friday 4 August 2023 |
| Time: | c. 16:45 |
| Type: |  Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss |
| Owner/operator: | Martínez Ridao Aviación |
| Registration: | EC-MNJ |
| MSN: | 802A-0325 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2012 |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67F |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Pracana dam, between Mação and Vila and Velha de Ródão, Castelo Blanco -
 Portugal
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Fire fighting |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | GPIAAF |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
A float-equipped Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss touched the surface of a lake with the right float first during a scooping run. Due to the asymmetry of drag in the water, the aircraft veered violently to the right with the consequent loss of control by the pilot. The aircraft ended up striking and coming to rest near the riverbank with substantial damage to the primary structure of the landing gear, floats and propeller, which touched the surface of the water with high power crashed into the water near the Procana dam, between Mação and Vila and Velha de Ródão, Castelo Blanco.
The pilot was uninjured.
Sources:
https://www.portugalpulse.com/mooring-of-plane-fighting-fire-in-castelo-branco-causes-material-damage/
https://observador.pt/2023/08/04/incendios-amaragem-de-aviao-que-combatia-fogo-em-castelo-branco-provoca-danos-materiais/
GPIAAF
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 16 July 2012 | I-SPEL | Protezione Civile Nazionale | 0 | Lake Varano, Foggia |  |
sub |
| 18 June 2022 | EC-MNJ | 0 | Castelo de Bode dam | |
min |
Location
Media:
Ayer tuvo un accidente un avión anfibio AT-802F en el #IRCasteloBranco en Portugal. El piloto salió ileso por suerte. pic.twitter.com/o69qlI8MG2
— Óscar. (@OscarBForestal) August 5, 2023
El medio aéreo es un At802 FB. Me alegro que el piloto se encuentre bien. Las causas aún se desconocen#IRCasteloBranco https://t.co/0Ca52HaBBL pic.twitter.com/5ifVbI5zki
— Matefireman (@Matefireman1) August 5, 2023
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 05-Aug-2023 07:02 | gerard57 | Added |
| 05-Aug-2023 07:33 | RobertMB | Updated |
| 05-Aug-2023 12:39 | Aerossurance | Updated |
| 05-Aug-2023 14:24 | harro | Updated |
| 06-Aug-2023 05:22 | harro | Updated |
| 06-Aug-2023 09:03 | Aerossurance | Updated |
| 08-Aug-2023 06:29 | Captain Adam | Updated |
| 01-Nov-2023 10:18 | harro | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation