Narrative:Ditched off Recife following fuel shortage. The Sabreliner was on a flight from Frankfurt to Oklahoma City with intermediate stops at Ascencion in the Atlantic Ocean and Recife, Brazil.
The pilots had planned their flight using weather data from Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, USA, when they could and should have used information from the Recife Forecast Center, which has extensive experience in the area of the South Atlantic Ocean. They introduced a correction in the Doppler Navigation System, diverting the aircraft to the left of the route. The flight ran out of fuel when 117 km from Recife.
A ditching was carried out. Two of the three crew were rescued.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE:
pilot-made navigational error
miscellaneous acts,conditions - fuel exhaustion
FACTOR(S):
pilot in command - inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning
complete power loss - complete engine failure/flameout-2 engines
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | CENIPA Brazil |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 10 months | Accident number: | final report | Download report: | Final report
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Classification:
Aircraft strayed off planned course
Fuel exhaustion
Ditching
Sources:
» NTSB
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Georgetown-Wideawake Field to Recife-Guararapes International Airport, PE as the crow flies is 2250 km (1407 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.