What happened
On November 26, 2000, a 95-B55 BEECH, registration PT-KPK, departed from Carlos Prates, MG, bound for Jacarepaguá, RJ, under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). While operating within the Rio de Janeiro Terminal Area (TMA), the pilot requested a direct routing through "Gate 3" to reach Jacarepaguá, rather than following the standard visual corridor procedure. Rio Approach (APP RJ) authorized the request but explicitly instructed the pilot to maintain visual conditions.
Shortly after the authorization, the aircraft's heading was noted at 170 degrees, deviating from the planned 184 degrees. Approximately one minute after the last communication, air traffic controllers lost both radar contact and radio communication with the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently struck the Serra de Madermureira mountains at an altitude of 1,900 feet—below the required minimum altitude of 2,100 feet for that area. The impact caused a massive explosion and the total destruction of the aircraft, resulting in one fatality.