Accident Description
The aircraft was conducting a routine flight from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport. During the descent phase at night, the crew reported to air traffic control that they had passed over the AF NDB while at an altitude of 5,000 feet in marginal weather conditions. Approximately two minutes after this transmission, the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain near Petrópolis, a location situated about 50 kilometers north of Santos Dumont Airport. The force of the collision caused the aircraft to disintegrate. All 25 occupants on board were killed.
Investigation and Probable Cause
Investigators determined that the accident occurred while the aircraft was descending in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The crew had erroneously tuned the ADF to the wrong NDB, causing the aircraft to follow an incorrect approach path and descend to an inappropriate altitude. The official probable cause states that during descent in IMC, the crew mistakenly tuned the ADF to a wrong NDB, leading the aircraft to deviate from the intended approach and descend unsuitably. Reduced visibility due to night and cloud cover was cited as a contributing factor.