Today marks 40 years because the third-worst aviation catastrophe to have occurred on Brazilian soil. It concerned a Boeing 727 operated by Viação Aérea São Paulo, or ‘VASP’ for brief. The crash occurred when the Fortaleza-bound trijet, which had over 100 individuals onboard, struck a mountain whereas descending towards its vacation spot.
The flight and plane concerned
VASP flight 168 was a scheduled Brazilian home service that originated at São Paulo/Congonhas–Deputado Freitas Nobre Airport (CGH). This facility served as one among two essential hubs for VASP throughout its 75-year historical past, a topic that Simple Flying just lately explored in larger element. Its different hub was São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU).
This specific flight was a two-legged affair, with its first and solely intermediate cease seeing it contact down at Rio de Janeiro/Galeão – Antonio Carlos Jobim International (GIG). After this, its closing vacation spot was Fortaleza-Pinto Martins International (FOR), which retains direct hyperlinks to each São Paulo and Rio right this moment.
According to the Aviation Safety Network, the plane working VASP flight 168 on June eighth, 1982 was a Boeing 727-200 registered as PP-SRK. ATDB.aero exhibits that it was round 5 years previous on the time, having first served Singapore Airlines between 1977 and 1980. It had 137 individuals (128 passengers and 9 crew) onboard.
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Tragedy within the mountains
The catastrophe involving VASP flight 168 occurred throughout the second leg of its flight, with the São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro portion having handed uneventfully. This was additionally the case for a lot of the sector between Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza. However, a tragic error would consequence within the trijet by no means reaching its vacation spot.
As it flew in direction of Fortaleza, the flight was progressively cleared to descend from its cruising altitude of 33,000 toes proper down to five,000 toes. However, having reached this altitude, the captain of the plane continued to descend. Investigators theorized that he did so as a consequence of disorientation brought on by the brilliant metropolis lights.
Now effectively beneath the 5,000-foot restrict, the 727’s floor proximity warning system (GPWS) issued a number of audible alerts relating to its lack of altitude. The co-pilot additionally raised this, stating the opportunity of mountainous terrain forward. Despite these warnings, the jet slammed into the mountainside at 1,950 toes.
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Impact and aftermath
Sadly, the affect with the hilly terrain outdoors Fortaleza resulted within the deaths of all 137 individuals onboard VASP flight 168. Among the victims was Brazilian entrepreneur Edson Queiroz. At the time of the crash, it was Brazil’s worst-ever crash, but it surely has since been overtaken by GOL flight 1907 (2006) and TAM flight 3054 (2007).
As for VASP, the airline had two extra deadly accidents within the the rest of its historical past (in 1986 and 1992), albeit with far decrease loss of life tolls. VASP’s story got here to an finish in 2008, when it declared chapter after sustained monetary points.
What do you make of this accident? Do you keep in mind it taking place on the time? Let us know your ideas and recollections within the feedback.
Source: Aviation Safety Network