Aircraft breakup during landing approach at Brasília

2 fatalities • Brasília, Brazil • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft experienced a nose gear collapse and subsequent structural failure after a hard landing in heavy rain near Brasília, resulting in two fatalities.

What happened

During an approach into Brasília, the flight crew encountered significantly reduced visibility caused by rainfall. As the aircraft was on short final for landing, the crew did not detect that the plane was maintaining an incorrect pitch attitude. This nose-down orientation led to a high-impact landing on the runway.

Upon impact, the nose landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to lose directional control and veer off the runway surface. The force of the event caused the airframe to break into two separate pieces. The accident resulted in two fatalities and 20 injuries, while 96 other individuals on board escaped without harm.

Findings

Investigations into the incident suggest that the flight crew experienced an optical illusion during the final stages of the approach, which contributed to the improper aircraft attitude.

Probable cause

The crew likely fell victim to an optical illusion during the short final phase, leading to an incorrect pitch attitude and a hard landing.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1982-05-24 Boeing 737-200 accident near Brasília, Brazil?

An aircraft experienced a nose gear collapse and subsequent structural failure after a hard landing in heavy rain near Brasília, resulting in two fatalities.

Were there any fatalities in the 1982-05-24 Boeing 737-200 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 2 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1982-05-24 involved a Boeing 737-200, registration PP-SMY, operated by VASP - Viação Aérea de São Paulo, at Brasília, Brazil.

What was the probable cause of the accident?