| 2023 ART Táxi Aéreo Cessna Grand Caravan crash | |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Summary: | Crashed shortly after take-off; under investigation |
| Site: | Near Rio Branco International Airport, Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil |
| Aircraft Type: | Cessna 208B |
| Operator: | ART Táxi Aéreo |
| Tail Number: | PT-MEE |
| Origin: | Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil |
| Destination: | Envira, Amazonas, Brazil |
| Occupants: | 12 |
| Passengers: | 10 |
| Crew: | 2 |
| Fatalities: | 12 |
| Survivors: | 0 |
On 29 October 2023, a Cessna 208B utility aircraft operated by ART Táxi Aéreo crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff from Rio Branco International Airport, killing all 12 people on board.[1]
The aircraft took off from Rio Branco bound for Envira, Amazonas. Some passengers were traveling to receive medical treatment. At around 6:30 a.m., the flight took off but soon after, it crashed into a wooded area just after the runway. The aircraft exploded on impact, killing all twelve passengers and crew on board.[2] Samu ambulances, military police vehicles and a Ciopaer helicopter traveled to the location of the accident to assist with the actions. The firefighters' work was made difficult as the crash occurred in a difficult to access location.
The aircraft was a Cessna 208B, with registration number PT-MEE, manufactured in 1993. According to the National Civil Aviation Agency, the plane was in good standing and had authorization to fly an air taxi, with its certificate of airworthiness valid until August 2024.[3] One of the passengers of the accident flight reported that the aircraft had "problems" on a previous flight.
The passengers included six men, three women and a baby aged one year and seven months. The pilot and co-pilot had experience and were trained according to the ART company lawyer. Of the 12 occupants on the flight, seven were from the city of Eirunepé, in the interior of Amazonas. Other residents were from Envira, the plane's destination.[4] According to the Acre State Government, the victims were burned to death.
The Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center was activated and the government of Acre said that an investigation will be conducted.