Lockheed Constellation accident near Cruzeiro do Sul

The Lockheed Constellation accident near Cruzeiro do Sul occurred on 29 May 1972, when a Lockheed L-049 Constellation cargo aircraft of Amazonese Importação e Exportação crashed on a flight from Cruzeiro do Sul to Rio Branco in the Brazilian state of Acre in the Amazon region. 9 of the 18 people on board the aircraft were killed in the accident. It is the last known fatal incident involving a Lockheed Constellation of the L-049/L-149 series.

Sequence of events

After refuelling, the aircraft took off and climbed to an altitude of 8000 feet (approx. 2440 metres) when engine No. 3 suddenly failed. Ten minutes later another engine failed, whereupon the aircraft began to lose altitude. Shortly afterwards the remaining engines also stopped working. Since the pilots could not maintain altitude, an attempt was made to reduce the flight weight by opening a cargo door and throwing parts of the cargo overboard. This did not succeed in stopping the aircraft's continuing loss of altitude. The crew finally attempted to land on the federal highway BR-364 between Cruzeiro do Sul and Tarauacá. The emergency landing failed; the Lockheed Constellation struck trees, broke apart and burst into flames. The entire crew and six passengers were killed; nine other passengers survived the incident.