Accident
On a flight from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport to Belém, a four-engine aircraft departed at 1600 local time with 15 passengers and six crew members aboard. About three hours into the flight, while at cruising altitude, a fire erupted on board. The crew subsequently lost control, and the aircraft entered a dive before crashing in an open field in Formosa de Rio Preto. The aircraft was totally destroyed, and all 21 occupants were killed.
Investigation
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a fire of unknown origin that erupted in flight, followed by several explosions. At the time of the fire, a load of ammunition was stored in several boxes in the cargo compartment.