What happened
On August 31, 1991, an EMB 721C, registration PT-EDU, departed Sena Madureira, Brazil, bound for Rio Branco. While climbing through 5,000 feet, the pilot reduced the propeller pitch, which triggered intense vibrations and a subsequent loss of engine traction.
In an attempt to perform a forced landing on the road connecting Sena Madureira and Rio Branco, the pilot maneuvered toward the highway. However, visibility was restricted to 4,000 meters due to heavy smoke from regional forest fires, making the road difficult to locate. The aircraft ultimately struck an irregular, wooded terrain. During the impact, the left wing collided with a tree, causing the aircraft to spin 90 degrees and sustain severe damage.
The accident resulted in one fatality (an infant passenger) and two serious injuries (the pilot and an adult passenger).