What happened
A cargo flight operating from Belém to São Paulo, with a scheduled stop in Brasília, was transporting mail, fish, and other goods when the accident occurred. The flight was carrying a total of three crew members. During the descent toward São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport, while maintaining an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet in favorable weather, the crew identified malfunctions within the aircraft's trim system.
In an attempt to rectify the issue, the crew performed various manual checks and operational tests. Although the system briefly appeared to function correctly, the failure recurred as the aircraft descended through the 6,000 to 4,700-foot range. Despite the ongoing technical difficulties, the captain elected to proceed with the approach to the airport.
As the aircraft reached the short final phase of the landing, it became unstable and experienced a sudden nose-down pitch. The aircraft struck runway 09R with significant force, which caused the undercarriage to be ripped from the airframe. Following the impact, the aircraft slid approximately 1,000 meters along the runway before veering left and coming to a halt in a nearby grassy area. While the aircraft was a total loss, all three crew members managed to exit the wreckage without any injuries.
Findings
- The primary factor in the loss of control was a recurring failure of the trim system during the final stages of the approach.