Transbrasil Flight 801
{{Short description|1989 aviation accident}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| image = PT-TCS Boeing 707-349C Transbrasil, Rio De Janeiro-Galeao International Airport 1988.jpg
| alt =
| caption = PT-TCS, the Boeing 707-349C involved in the accident, seen in October 1988
| occurrence_type = Accident
| summary = Stall caused by pilot error on approach
| site = Vila Barros, near São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport, Guarulhos, State of São Paulo, Brazil
| coordinates =
| total_fatalities = 25 (3 on the aircraft, 22 on the ground)
| total_injuries = over 200 (on the ground)
| aircraft_type = Boeing 707-349C
| aircraft_name =
| operator = Transbrasil
| ICAO = TBA801
| tail_number = PT-TCS
| origin = Eduardo Gomes International Airport, Manaus
| stopover =
| stopover0 =
| last_stopover =
| destination = São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport
| passengers = 0
| crew = 3
| fatalities = 3
| injuries =
| missing =
| survivors = 0
| ground_fatalities = 22
| ground_injuries = at least 200
| plane1_occupants = 3
}}
Transbrasil Flight 801 (TR801/TBA801) was a scheduled cargo flight from Eduardo Gomes International Airport to São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport that crashed on 21 March 1989. The Boeing 707 crashed into a heavily populated slum in Guarulhos {{Convert|2|km|mi nmi|abbr=}} from the runway. The crash resulted in the death of all 3 crew members and 22 people on the ground. 200 people were injured.{{cite news|last=|first=|date=22 March 1989|title=At least 16 die as Brazilian jet hits shanty town|website=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/22/world/at-least-16-die-as-brazilian-jet-hits-shantytown.html|accessdate=20 January 2017|issn=0362-4331}}
Aircraft
The aircraft was a Boeing 707-349C registration PT-TCS with manufacturer serial number 19354 and line number 503.{{cite web|url=https://www.jetphotos.com/info/707-19354|title=PT-TCS registration information|accessdate=4 October 2018}} It was powered by 4 Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3B turbofan engines. Its maiden flight was on June 9, 1966, meaning it had been in service for 22 years and 10 months when it crashed. It had accumulated 61,000 flight hours.{{cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|date=|title=Transbrasil Flight 801 info|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19890321-0|accessdate=3 October 2018|website=aviation-safety.net|publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
The plane had been used in the filming of the 1970 disaster movie Airport. At the time it was owned by Flying Tiger Line.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065377/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv|title=Airport (1970) trivia|website=IMDb|accessdate=22 December 2015}} It was subsequently operated by Aer Lingus, EI AI and British Caledonian before being sold to Transbrasil.{{cite web|url=https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/PT-TCS/491946|title=PT-TCS registration detail|accessdate=4 October 2018}}
Accident
The accident occurred at 11:54 am, Brasilia time. The aircraft was making a high speed approach to runway 09R of São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport as the runway was set to be closed in 6 minutes' time for runway maintenance. One of the crew members activated the air brakes by mistake. This resulted in the aircraft losing too much airspeed and stalling. The aircraft then crashed into a residential area near Rua Regente Feijó and Rua Sandovalina in the Jardim Scyntila neighborhood approximately {{Convert|2|km|mi nmi|abbr=}} from the runway. The aircraft was carrying over {{convert|15,000|L}} of jet fuel at the time of impact, which caught fire immediately, resulting in the death of all 3 crew members on board and 22 civilians in the slums along with over 200 injured. The aircraft was loaded with {{Convert|26|t|kg lb|abbr=}} of television sets and toys from the Manaus Free Trade Zone, all of which were destroyed.{{Cite news |date=22 March 1989 |title=Cargo Plane Crashes Into Sao Paulo Slum; 21 Killed |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-22-mn-61-story.html |access-date=7 October 2018}} This was the first serious crash since the inauguration of São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport on 20 January 1985.{{Cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|date=|title=São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, SP profile|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=GRU|access-date=2021-01-22|website=aviation-safety.net|publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
Investigation and aftermath
The investigation carried out by the Department of Civil Aviation at the time indicated that the accident was caused by human error. The aircraft had been inspected two months before the accident and was considered "fit" to operate.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://sistema.cenipa.aer.mil.br/cenipa/paginas/relatorios/rf/pt/p_t_t_c_s_report_final_1989.pdf Final report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104155522/http://sistema.cenipa.aer.mil.br/cenipa/paginas/relatorios/rf/pt/p_t_t_c_s_report_final_1989.pdf |date=2020-11-04 }} {{in lang|pt}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in Brazil}}{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1989}}
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Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 707
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Brazil
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1989
Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error