Embraer Aircraft EMB-820C accident near Almeirim Municipality, Br, March 12, 2013
On March 12, 2013 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Embraer Aircraft EMB-820C, registered PTVAQ, was destroyed in an accident near Almeirim Municipality. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 10 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 2013 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Almeirim Municipality, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 10 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer Aircraft EMB-820C
- Registration
- PTVAQ · no longer on the register · serial 820140
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 12, 2013, about 2330 UTC, an Embraer Aircraft EMB-820C, PT-VAQ, operated by Fretax Taxi Aereo Ltda, crashed during approach to Monte Dourado Airport (SBMD), Almeirim, Brazil. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and flight plan information is unknown for the foreign non-scheduled revenue passenger flight from Val de Cans International Airport (SBBE), Belem, Brazil, to SBMD. The airplane was destroyed by impact and a postcrash fire and the pilot and nine passengers were fatally injured. The time of departure from SBBE was not determined. According to preliminary information, the airplane was on approach to SBMD, and was lost from radar at 2026 UTC. The following day, the wreckage was spotted in a eucalyptus plantation, 300 meters to the north of a nearby railway. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Brazil. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aeronautical Accident Prevention And Investigation Center (CENIPA) Information Technology Division SHIS-QI 05-VI Comar Brasilia-DF, Brazil, 71.615.600 Phone: 55 61 3364 8819 Facsimile: 55 61 3365 1004 E-mail: dti@cenipa.aer.mil.br This report is for informational purposes only, and contains information released by or obtained for the Government of Brazil.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SBBE Belem
- Destination: SBMD Almeirim
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 090° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from SBMD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 9 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.