Cargo Flight Crash in Brazil After Takeoff from Feijó (PT-GJY)

Flight Details and Accident Sequence The aircraft was operating a cargo flight from Feijó to Rio Branco, with an intermediate stop at Tarauacá. It carried two pilots and 635 kilograms of various goods. Because the leg to Tarauacá was expected to last only about 10 minutes, the crew elected to keep the landing gear extended during takeoff. Shortly after departing Feijó Airport, the crew reported technical problems with the right engine. The aircraft lost speed and altitude, and the captain attempted to retract the landing gear, but the action was too late to prevent the accident. The aircraft struck a tree, tearing off 3.2 meters of the right wing. It then crashed into a wooded area and caught fire, killing both pilots. ## Official Findings and Contributing Factors The investigation determined that the aircraft had experienced an incident the previous evening while landing at Feijó Airport. During that landing, the copilot mishandled the engines and failed to apply reverse pitch. Directional control was lost, and the left main landing gear ran off the side of the runway. The aircraft came to rest 40 meters beyond the runway end. The airplane was towed to the ramp, where the captain inspected it. No visible damage was found, and the crew decided to continue the flight after notifying the company base. At the time of the accident, the crew was anxious about the previous evening’s event, and the captain’s attention was distracted. The report noted a higher level of stress in the cockpit and stated that the copilot did not want to serve as pilot in command for the second leg due to anxiety. Because the right engine was completely destroyed by the post-crash fire, investigators could not determine the exact cause of its malfunction. Poor weather conditions, poor flight planning, and insufficient rudder control inputs were identified as contributing factors.