1999 Embraer EMB-110 P1 accident at Tapauá (PTLNW)

Accident overview and aircraft details On 30 March 1999, an Embraer EMB-110 P1, registration PT-LNW, serial number 110346, built by Embraer in 1981, was operating a charter flight for Meta Táxi Aéreo. The twin-turboprop aircraft departed Manaus Eduardo Gomes International Airport (SBEG) at 08:40 local time on a visual flight plan for Coari (SWKO), carrying 13 passengers and two crew members. ## Diversion and takeoff attempt Near Coari, the left engine fire warning light illuminated. Because weather at the destination was unfavorable, the crew elected to land at a known airstrip near Tapauá, Amazonas. The Tapauá field was neither approved nor registered and had no airport infrastructure; its asphalt runway measured 1,050 m by 10 m and was described as irregular, smooth, and pitted, with clay soil on the sides. After landing, ground checks were performed and the fire warning light was extinguished. The crew then decided to take off for Coari. During the takeoff roll, the pilot attempted to avoid holes in the runway by moving left of center. The left main gear left the runway, and after about 280 m the pilot aborted the takeoff. The aircraft lost control and struck the edge of a depression on the left side of the runway. ## Damage and injuries The aircraft sustained serious damage to the landing gear, left wing, fuselage, propeller, and engine. There was no fire. All two crew members and 13 passengers were uninjured. ## Investigation findings The report found that the pilots were licensed, qualified, and experienced, and that maintenance had been adequate and periodic. The aircraft’s airworthiness certificate was valid, and its last inspection was a B2-300 h check, with 32 flight hours since. No flight recorders were required or installed. Contributing factors included human and operational issues. The crew’s decision to land at an irregular, unapproved runway without fully assessing the fire-warning procedure and associated risks reflected decision-making shortcomings. The company’s organizational culture and supervision were criticized for allowing operations from unapproved airstrips and for inadequate flight-safety oversight. Cabin coordination and command application were also cited as deficient, particularly the leftward deviation and failure to return the aircraft to the runway. The report noted that familiarity with the Tapauá strip reflected a recurring habit of using unapproved runways in the Amazon region.