Aircraft overrun at Pampulha Airport

No fatalities • Belo Horizonte-Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Brazil • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft experienced a braking failure during landing at Pampulha Airport, resulting in an excursion off the runway and significant damage.

What happened

Following the touchdown at Pampulha Airport, the flight crew encountered significant issues attempting to decelerate the aircraft. The plane failed to stop within the runway limits, leading to a runway overrun. During the excursion, the aircraft traveled down an embankment and came to a halt several dozen meters away from the landing surface. The impact with the terrain caused the undercarriage to be torn from the airframe.

Despite the severity of the impact, all 19 occupants on board managed to evacuate the wreckage without life-threatening harm. The incident resulted in only minor injuries among the passengers and crew. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.

Findings

Official investigations concluded that the primary factor in the accident was a failure of the braking system occurring after the aircraft had landed.

Probable cause

The aircraft experienced a failure of its brakes following touchdown, preventing the crew from stopping the plane on the runway.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1978-10-07 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Belo Horizonte-Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Brazil?

An aircraft experienced a braking failure during landing at Pampulha Airport, resulting in an excursion off the runway and significant damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 1978-10-07 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1978-10-07 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration PT-KVU, operated by Rico Taxi Aéreo - Rondonia Importaçao e Comercio, at Belo Horizonte-Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Brazil.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft experienced a failure of its brakes following touchdown, preventing the crew from stopping the plane on the runway.

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