What happened
An unnamed twin-engine aircraft was conducting a flight from Brasília toward Goiânia-Santa Genoveva Airport. During the descent, the crew encountered challenging meteorological conditions characterized by significant turbulence and heavy rainfall, which severely limited visibility.
While performing the final approach, the aircraft deviated below the established glide path. The plane struck the slope of Mt Santo Antônio, located approximately 10.7 km from runway 32. The impact and subsequent post-crash fire resulted in the destruction of the airframe and six fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the accident highlighted several contributing factors regarding the pilot's decision-making and situational awareness. It was noted that the pilot may have been influenced by observing previous aircraft successfully landing at lower altitudes, leading to an increased confidence that prompted a descent below safe minimums without properly evaluating the risks of flying in such weather.
Several operational pressures were identified, including high workload and physical factors that may have impacted the pilot's ability to manage the situation. During the final stages of flight, the pilot reportedly delegated radiotelephony duties to a passenger, potentially further straining cockpit management.
Technical and navigational discrepancies also played a role. The aircraft was tracking a course of 320º instead of the required 325º, which aligned it with the terrain. Furthermore, the approach chart for runway 32 failed to depict Mount Santo Antônio as a control obstacle, which likely hindered the crew's ability to maintain adequate situational awareness regarding the nearby mountain.