View source for TAM Airlines Flight 3054

{{Short description|2007 plane crash in São Paulo, Brazil}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| name            = TAM Airlines Flight 3054
| image           = Acidentetam0.jpg
| alt             = 
| caption         = The TAM Express warehouse on fire shortly after the aircraft crashed into it
| occurrence_type = Accident
| date            = {{start date|2007|07|17}}
| summary         = Crashed following [[runway overrun]] due to [[pilot error]]
| site            = [[São Paulo–Congonhas Airport]], [[São Paulo]], Brazil
| coordinates     = {{coord|23|37|11|S|046|39|44|W|region:BR-SP_type:event_scale:5000|display=inline,title}}
| plane1_image    = TAM Linhas Aéreas Airbus A320-233 PR-MBK at Fortaleza–Pinto Martins International Airport (FOR, SBFZ) - 27 February 2007.jpg
| plane1_caption  = PR-MBK, the aircraft involved in the accident in February 2007 at [[Fortaleza Airport|Fortaleza–Pinto Martins International Airport]]
| total_fatalities = 199
| total_injuries  = 27
| aircraft_type   = [[Airbus A320-200|Airbus A320-233]]
| operator        = [[LATAM Brasil|TAM Airlines]]
| IATA            = JJ3054
| ICAO            = TAM3054
| callsign        = TAM 3054
| tail_number     = PR-MBK<ref name="flightbreaking" />
| origin          = [[Salgado Filho International Airport]], [[Porto Alegre]], Brazil
| destination     = [[São Paulo–Congonhas Airport]], [[São Paulo]], Brazil
| occupants       = 187
| passengers      = 181<ref name="187 on board" /><ref name="MSNBC 2">{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=Brazil president vows thorough probe of crash: Da Silva unveils new safety steps after latest aviation disaster killed 191 people |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19864334 |work=[[NBC News]] |date=July 21, 2007 |access-date=July 21, 2007 |archive-date=November 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112034634/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19864334/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| crew            = 6<ref name="notaTAM">{{cite web|title=Nota da TAM retifica informação e diz que Airbus 320 levava 176 pessoas|trans-title=TAM notice corrects information and says 176 people died in Airbus 320|url=http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/07/17/materia.2007-07-17.3821074797/view|publisher=[[Agência Brasil]]|date=July 17, 2007|access-date=July 17, 2007|language=pt|archive-date=September 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929042006/http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/07/17/materia.2007-07-17.3821074797/view|url-status=live}}</ref>
| fatalities      = 187<ref name="asn">{{cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |date=July 17, 2007 |title=Accident Description |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20070717-0 |access-date=July 19, 2007 |website=Aviation Safety Network|publisher=[[Flight Safety Foundation]] |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111110209/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20070717-0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| survivors       = 0
| ground_fatalities = 12
| ground_injuries = 27
}}
'''TAM Airlines Flight 3054''' was a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight operated by [[LATAM Brasil|TAM Airlines]] from [[Porto Alegre]] to [[São Paulo]], Brazil. On the evening of July 17, 2007, the [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320-233]] serving the flight from Porto Alegre  [[Runway excursion|overran runway]] 35L at São Paulo after touching down during moderate rain and crashed into a nearby [[Helisul Linhas Aéreas|TAM Express]] [[warehouse]] adjacent to a [[Shell plc|Shell]] [[Filling station|gas station]].<ref name="CNN">{{cite news |date=July 18, 2007 |title=Pilot in Brazilian crash tried to abort landing, official says |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/07/18/brazil.plane.crash/index.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811230607/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/07/18/brazil.plane.crash/index.html |archive-date=August 11, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 17, 2007 |title=Incêndio permanece fora de controle; chances de sobrevivência diminuem |language=pt |trans-title=Fire remains out of control; chances for survivors diminished |newspaper=[[Folha de S.Paulo]] |url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u312789.shtml |access-date=July 17, 2007 |archive-date=August 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817031634/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u312789.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> The aircraft exploded on impact, killing all 187 passengers and crew on board, as well as 12 people on the ground. An additional 27 people in the warehouse were injured.<ref name="187 on board">{{cite web |date=July 20, 2007 |title=TAM confirma passageiro número 187 no vôo 3504 |trans-title=TAM confirms 187th passenger on flight 3054 |url=http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL74102-5605,00.html |access-date=July 21, 2007 |publisher=Globo |language=pt |archive-date=August 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811012310/http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL74102-5605,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 17, 2007 |title=Três vítimas do acidente com avião da TAM são atendidas no hospital Alvorada |language=pt |trans-title=Three victims of the TAM plane crash are treated at the Alvorada hospital |newspaper=[[Folha de S.Paulo]] |url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u312799.shtml |access-date=July 17, 2007 |archive-date=October 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012213119/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u312799.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="GloboG1">{{Cite web |title=TAM refaz lista de vítimas e contabiliza 199 mortos |trans-title=TAM remakes list of victims and counts 199 dead |url=http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL75785-5605,00.html |access-date=July 23, 2007 |website=g1.globo.com |language=pt |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721122933/http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL75785-5605,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The accident surpassed [[Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907]] as the deadliest aviation accident in Brazilian territory and in South American history and was the deadliest involving the Airbus A320 series until the bombing of [[Metrojet Flight 9268]] in 2015, which killed 224 people. This was the last major fatal plane accident in Brazil until 2024, when [[Voepass Linhas Aéreas Flight 2283]] crashed near [[São Paulo]] and killed 62 people.

The accident was investigated by the [[Brazilian Air Force]]'s [[Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center]] ({{langx|pt|Centro de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos|links=no}}; CENIPA), and a final report was issued in September 2009. CENIPA concluded that the accident was caused by pilot error during the landing at São Paulo.

== Background ==
=== Congonhas runway refit ===
[[File:2016-01-31-aeroporto de Congonhas visto da Vila Santa Catarina.jpg|thumb|A view of Congonhas Airport in 2016]]

On both of Congonhas Airport's runways (35L/17R and 35R/17L), a slope prevented the drainage of accumulated water on the asphalt. The surface was already smooth due to [[airfield rubber removal|excess rubber]]  from the increased braking required on landing.<ref name="PT239">{{harvnb|Sant'anna|2011|p=239}}</ref> There were no [[runway end safety area]]s, as Avenida Washington Luís (a busy avenue), as well as several buildings and houses, were located at the end of runways 35L and 35R. On July 24, 2006, less than a year before the accident, a Boeing 737 of BRA Transportes Aéreos had difficulty stopping on runway 35L, but the pilots were able to bring the aircraft to a stop safely by performing a [[Ground loop (aviation)|ground loop]].<ref name="PT240">{{harvnb|Sant'anna|2011|p=240}}</ref> Due to delays and flight cancellations caused by rains in early 2007, [[Infraero]] (the company that manages Congonhas Airport) decided to resurface the airport's main runway. The installation of [[landing performance#Runway surface|channeling grooves]]  was planned to reduce the risk of [[Aquaplaning|hydroplaning]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sem grooving, pista de Congonhas virou 'sabonete', diz piloto da TAM |trans-title=Without grooving, Congonhas track became 'soap', says TAM pilot |url=http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL87492-5605,00-SEM+GROOVING+PISTA+DE+CONGONHAS+VIROU+SABONETE+DIZ+PILOTO+DA+TAM.html |access-date=July 23, 2019 |website=g1.globo.com |language=pt-BR |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205040137/https://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL87492-5605,00-SEM+GROOVING+PISTA+DE+CONGONHAS+VIROU+SABONETE+DIZ+PILOTO+DA+TAM.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PT240" /> The resurfacing work was completed on June 29, but the grooves were not added. Infraero stated that adding the grooves would require an additional 30 days. Despite the incomplete refit, the Congonhas runway remained open for use during the [[2006–07 Brazilian aviation crisis]].<ref name="PT240" />

=== Landing difficulties ===
On July 16, the day before the crash, four pilots who landed at the airport reported poor braking conditions, including a TAM pilot who managed to stop his aircraft just a few meters before the end of the runway. Between 12:25 pm and 12:28 pm, Infraero suspended operations at the airport to assess the runway conditions and subsequently cleared it for use, reporting "no puddles and water slides." However, at 12:42 local time on the same day, [[Pantanal Linhas Aéreas]] Flight 4763, an [[ATR 42|ATR 42-300]], hydroplaned after touching down on runway 17R. The aircraft veered to the left, striking a concrete box and a small light pole before coming to rest on the grass between the runway and taxiway. All 25 people on board survived with no injuries, but the aircraft was severely damaged and deemed beyond repair.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=ASN Aircraft accident ATR 42-300 PT-MFK São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, SP (CGH) |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20070716-0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324163347/https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20070716-0 |archive-date=March 24, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |website=Aviation Safety Network |publisher=Flight Safety Foundation}}</ref><ref name="PT241">{{harvnb|Sant'anna|2011|p=241}}</ref> Despite this incident, landings continued to be conducted normally at the airport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://memoria.ebc.com.br/agenciabrasil/noticia/2007-08-07/falta-de-grooving-em-congonhas-pode-ter-causado-derrapagem-diz-presidente-da-pantanal|title=Falta de grooving em Congonhas pode ter causado derrapagem, diz presidente da Pantanal|last=Rodrigues|first=Alex|date=July 8, 2007|website=memoria.ebc.com.br|publisher=EBC|language=pt-br|trans-title=Lack of grooving in Congonhas may have caused slippage, says president of Pantanal|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723161439/http://memoria.ebc.com.br/agenciabrasil/noticia/2007-08-07/falta-de-grooving-em-congonhas-pode-ter-causado-derrapagem-diz-presidente-da-pantanal|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Aircraft and crew==
[[File:Pacific Airlines Airbus A320 Mutzenberg.jpg|thumb|The aircraft involved in the accident while still in service with [[Pacific Airlines]], in 2004]]
The aircraft operating as Flight 3054 was a twin turbofan Airbus A320-233, serial number 789, registration PR-MBK; it was powered by two [[IAE V2500]] engines. It was built in 1998 and had been operated by other airlines before entering service with TAM in January 2007, six months before the accident. The aircraft was owned by [[Pegasus Aviation Finance Company|Pegasus Aviation]] and had flown more than 21,000 hours over 10,000 cycles before the crash.<ref name="flightbreaking">{{cite web|first=Nicholas|last=Ionides|title=BREAKING NEWS: TAM A320 crashes in São Paulo|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/18/215565/breaking-news-tam-a320-crashes-in-sao-paoelo.html|publisher=[[Flight International]]|date=July 18, 2007|access-date=February 23, 2014|archive-date=February 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228030023/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/18/215565/breaking-news-tam-a320-crashes-in-sao-paoelo.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The aircraft was dispatched with the [[thrust reverser]] on the starboard engine deactivated, as it had jammed. TAM said in a statement that a fault in a reverser "does not jeopardize landings" and no mechanical problem had been recorded on July 16, the day before the accident.<ref name="fault">{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22104315-23109,00.html |title=Brazil plane 'flew with mechanical fault' |date=July 20, 2007 |access-date=July 20, 2007 |work=news.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305040633/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C22104315-23109%2C00.html |archive-date=March 5, 2008  }}</ref> The aircraft had no difficulty braking on the same runway a day before the fatal accident.<ref name="Reuters focus shift"/>

There were six crew members and 181 passengers on board. All 6 crew members as well as 171 of the passengers were Brazilian; the 10 remaining passengers were of various other nationalities.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 25, 2007|title=Saiba mais sobre os mortos no acidento com o vôo 3054|trans-title=Find out more about those killed in the 3054 crash|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/especial/2007/voo3054/vitimas.shtml|access-date=March 28, 2019 |website=Folha.uol.com.br |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328183724/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/especial/2007/voo3054/vitimas.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The flight crew consisted of two captains (rather than the usual captain and first officer): Captain Henrique Stefanini Di Sacco (53), and Captain Kleyber Aguiar Lima (54).<ref name=":1" />  The four flight attendants included Cassia Negretto (28) with 8 years' service at TAM, Daniela Bahdur (29) with 4 years' service, Michelle Leite (26) with 1.5 years' service, and Renata Gonçalves (22) with 2 years' service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Folha Online - Cotidiano - Saiba mais sobre os mortos no acidento com o vôo 3054 - 25/07/2007 |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/especial/2007/voo3054/vitimas.shtml |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www1.folha.uol.com.br}}</ref>

Both pilots had been flying for over 30 years. Stefanini had logged 13,654 flight hours in his career (including 2,236 hours on the Airbus A320), and Lima 14,760 hours, with 237 of them on the Airbus A320.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2009 |title=Final Report A-No. 67/CENIPA/2009 (English) |url=https://sistema.cenipa.fab.mil.br/cenipa/paginas/relatorios/rf/en/3054ing_2007.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010182743/https://sistema.cenipa.fab.mil.br/cenipa/paginas/relatorios/rf/en/3054ing_2007.pdf |archive-date=October 10, 2023 |access-date=October 27, 2009 |publisher=[[Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center|CENIPA]]}}</ref><!-- This is also stated in the mayday episode -->

{| class="sortable wikitable" align="right" style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em; font-size:85%;" 
! Nationality
! Passengers
! Crew
! Ground
! Total
|-
| style="text-align:left;"  | Brazil
| 171
| 6
| 12
| 189
|-
| style="text-align:left;"  | France
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"  | Argentina 
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 2
|-
| Portugal
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 1
|-
| Sweden
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 1
|-
| United States
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 1
|-
| South Africa 
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 2
|-
| Peru
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 1
|- class="sortbottom"
| '''Total'''
| '''181'''
| '''6'''
| '''12'''
| '''199'''
|}

==Flight chronology==
[[File:TAM Flight 3054 Rout.svg|thumb|Flight 3054's route]]

Several players and coaches from the [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio football club]] were initially booked on Flight 3054, intending to catch a connecting flight in Congonhas and fly to [[Goiânia]], for a game scheduled against the [[Goiás Esporte Clube]]. However, the club's management rescheduled the trip to the next day.<ref name="PT2572">{{harvnb|Sant'anna|2011|p=257}}</ref> The plane departed from [[Salgado Filho International Airport]] in [[Porto Alegre]] at 17:18 [[Time in Brazil|Brazilian Standard Time]] (BRT) (20:18 [[UTC]]). It climbed to flight level (FL) 340 ({{Convert|34000|ft|m|abbr=}}).<ref name="PT262">{{harvnb|Sant'anna|2011|p=262}}</ref> At 18:48 BRT (21:48 UTC), the flight made its landing at [[Congonhas-São Paulo International Airport|Congonhas-São Paulo Regional Airport]].<ref name="PT262" />

2 of the passengers were from Argentina since Porto Alegre is a nearby Brazilian city to Argentina. 

==Accident==
[[File:Voo TAM 3054 - Trajetoria.png|thumb|left|An artist's rendering showing the path of the aircraft during its final moments]]

Flight 3054 was cleared to land at Congonhas's Runway 35L. Reviews by government officials of the surveillance videos showed that despite the aircraft touching down without incident,<!--Di Sacco would've tried to put down with as much runway as possible--> it did not slow down normally, veering to the left as it departed the far end at around {{convert|90|kn|km/h mph}}.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rigi|first=Cimilla|date=July 18, 2007|title=Autoridades dizem que o avião estava acima da velocidade normal|trans-title=Officials say the plane was above normal speed|url=https://sao-paulo.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,aviao-estava-acima-da-velocidade-normal-dizem-autoridades,20766|access-date=July 18, 2007|work=O Estado de S. Paulo|language=pt-BR|archive-date=September 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919165121/http://sao-paulo.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,aviao-estava-acima-da-velocidade-normal-dizem-autoridades,20766|url-status=live}}</ref> The runway is elevated above the surrounding area, and the aircraft's momentum carried it over traffic on the adjacent [[Washington Luís Pereira de Sousa|''Avenida Washington Luís'']], a major thoroughfare, and crushed a four-story [[TAM Express]] facility, resulting in a large fire. The TAM Express facility contained offices and a warehouse, and was located adjacent to a Shell gas station. All 187 passengers and crew died and the aircraft was destroyed.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 17, 2007 |title=O acidente do avião da TAM |trans-title=The TAM plane crash |url=http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/media/infograficos/2007/07/17/acidente_170707.swf/view |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516043225/http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/media/infograficos/2007/07/17/acidente_170707.swf/view |archive-date=May 16, 2008 |access-date=July 17, 2007 |publisher=[[Agência Brasil]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref>

The runway had recently been resurfaced, and did not yet have [[Runway#Surface|water-channeling grooves]] cut into it to reduce the danger of [[Aquaplaning|hydroplaning]].<ref name="CNN" />

[[File:Avio tam editado.ogg|thumb|Surveillance video of Flight 3054 landing]]
[[File:TAMPouso.ogg|thumb|Different angle video of Flight 3054 landing]]

[[Flight Data Recorder]] (FDR) information recovered after the crash and released by Brazilian authorities showed that immediately prior to touchdown, both [[thrust lever]]s were in CL (or "climb") position, with engine power being governed by the flight computer's [[autothrottle]] system.<ref name="DFDR">{{cite web|date=July 24, 2007|title=TAM Airbus 320-200, Flight No. 3054, PR-MBK|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/20070809-voo3054.pdf|access-date=September 5, 2007|publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|via=Folha De S.Paulo|id=DCA07RA059|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305031127/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/20070809-voo3054.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Two seconds prior to touchdown, an aural warning, "retard, retard", was issued by the flight's computer system, advising the pilots to retard the thrust lever to the recommended idle lever position. This would disengage the autothrottle, with engine power then governed directly by the thrust levers.

At the moment of touchdown, the [[Spoiler (aeronautics)|spoiler]] lever was in the "ARMED" position.<ref name="DFDR"/> According to the system logic of the A320's flight controls,<ref name="manual">{{cite web|url=http://www.smartcockpit.com/data/pdfs/plane/airbus/A320/systems/A320-Flight_Controls.pdf|title=A320 Flight Controls Manual|publisher=[[Airbus]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928080606/http://www.smartcockpit.com/data/pdfs/plane/airbus/A320/systems/A320-Flight_Controls.pdf|archive-date=September 28, 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=September 5, 2007}}</ref> in order for the spoilers to automatically deploy upon touchdown, not only must the spoiler lever be in the "ARMED" position, but both thrust levers must be at or close to the "idle" position. The FDR transcript shows that immediately after the warning, the flight computer recorded the left thrust lever being retarded to the rear-most position, activating the thrust reverser on the left engine, while the right thrust lever (controlling the engine with the disabled thrust reverser) remained in the CL position. One theory put forth by CENIPA is that the pilots may not have noticed that the right engine remained at CL because the Airbus autothrottle system, unlike other aircraft manufacturers, does not automatically move the levers when the autothrust controller changes engine settings. Therefore, the pilots may have thought that the right engine was at idle power without realizing that Airbus autothrust logic dictates that, when one or more of the thrust levers is pulled to the idle position, the autothrust is automatically disengaged.<ref name=":1" /> Thus, when the pilot pulled the left engine thrust lever to idle, it disconnected the autothrust system and the computer did not retard the right engine power to idle. The A320's spoilers did not deploy during the landing run, as the right thrust lever was above the "idle" setting required for automatic spoiler deployment.<ref name="DFDR"/> Since the right engine thrust lever was still in the "climb" detent at that time, the right engine accelerated to climb power while the left engine deployed its thrust reverser. The resulting asymmetric thrust condition resulted in a loss of control and a crash ensued. It only took 16 seconds from the incorrect positioning of the thrust levers to overrunning the runway with an ensuing loss of control, and 26 seconds until the aircraft crashed.

=== Timeline ===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.desastresaereos.net/acidentetam3054.htm#O_acidente|title=DESASTRES AEREOS - ACIDENTE TAM JJ 3054 - ÍNDICE|website=www.desastresaereos.net|language=pt|trans-title=AIR DISASTERS - ACIDOR TAM JJ 3054 - INDEX|access-date=March 28, 2019|archive-date=June 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624055952/http://www.desastresaereos.net/acidentetam3054.htm#O_acidente|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%; width:65%; text-align: center"
! colspan="2" |Time
! rowspan="2" |Event
|-
![[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]
!Local time ([[UTC−03:00]])
|-
|20:19
|17:19
| style="text-align:left" |Flight 3054 departs Salgado Filho Airport after taxiing on Runway 35L
|-
|21:20
|18:20
| style="text-align:left" |The flight begins its approach to Congonhas Airport
|-
|21:43
|18:43
| style="text-align:left" |The pilots perform the landing checklist
|-
|21:47
|18:47
| style="text-align:left" |Flight 3054 is cleared to land on runway 35L
|-
|21:48:24
|18:48:24
| style="text-align:left" |Thrust levers are positioned incorrectly
|-
|21:48:26
|18:48:26
| style="text-align:left" |Flight 3054 lands on the runway
|-
|21:48:30
|18:48:30
| style="text-align:left" |The aircraft begins to turn left
|-
|21:48:40
|18:48:40
| style="text-align:left" |Flight 3054 overruns the runway steering left
|-
|21:48:50
|18:48:50
| style="text-align:left" |Flight 3054 crashes into the TAM Express building killing all of the passengers onboard as well as 12 people on the ground.
|}

==Congonhas==
[[File:Tamexpress.jpg|left|thumb|The [[TAM Express]] warehouse before the crash]]
[[File:TAM Linhas Aéreas Flight 3054.jpg|left|thumb|The wreckage of Flight 3054 the day after the crash]]
[[File:Acidentetam9.jpg|right|thumb|Angle of the TAM Express warehouse on fire shortly after the crash]]
[[File:Voo TAM 3054 crash 1.jpg | thumb|right | Part of the gears being lifted out of the warehouse]]
[[File:Voo TAM 3054 crash 10.jpg|thumb|The burnt-out warehouse after the crash]]

Aviation safety in Brazil had been under increased scrutiny following the mid-air collision in September 2006 over the [[Amazon Basin|Amazon]] of [[Gol Transportes Aéreos]] [[Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907|Flight 1907]] and an [[Embraer Legacy 600]] (see [[Brazil's 2006-2007 aviation crisis]]).

The 35L runway at Congonhas is {{convert|1940|m}} long. Congonhas's counterpart in [[Rio de Janeiro]], the [[Santos Dumont Airport]], has an even shorter runway, at {{convert|1323|m|abbr=on}}. Both airports receive the same type of traffic &mdash; ranging from small private planes to Boeing 737s and A320s. Many variables affect the landing distance of an aircraft, such as approach speed, weight and the presence of either a tailwind or a headwind. For an Airbus A320, a landing speed of {{convert|20|kn|km/h mph|abbr=}} higher than normal can result in as much as a 25% increase in the runway length needed to stop an aircraft. Wet weather can also significantly reduce the braking performance of aircraft, leading to an increase in the minimum runway length requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leyman |first=Clive |title=A320 Warsaw Landing Analysis |url=http://www.rvs.uni-bielefeld.de/publications/Incidents/DOCS/ComAndRep/Warsaw/leyman/analysis-leyman.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818002334/http://www.rvs.uni-bielefeld.de/publications/Incidents/DOCS/ComAndRep/Warsaw/leyman/analysis-leyman.html |archive-date=August 18, 2007 |access-date=July 18, 2007 |website=www.rvs.uni-bielefeld.de |publication-place=City University of London}}</ref>

The airport is also known to be a dangerous airport in Brazil due to its runways.

Pilots have called Congonhas airport the "aircraft carrier," because of the runway's short length and because pilots are told to [[go-around]] if they overshoot the first {{convert|1000|ft}} of runway.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-07-17 |title=Death toll in Sao Paulo crash at 189 and could rise |url=http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-fgcrash17jul17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228142137/http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-fgcrash17jul17 |archive-date=February 28, 2008 |access-date=February 3, 2009 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In June 2007, a Brazilian judge briefly banned flights using [[Fokker 100]], [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-700]] and Boeing 737-800 aircraft in and out of the airport. The [[Airbus A320]] was not among the aircraft banned, due to its manufacturer-stated [[braking distance]] being shorter than those of the banned aircraft. Pilots had complained that water had been accumulating on the runway, reducing aircraft braking performance and occasionally causing planes to [[aquaplaning|hydroplane]].<ref name="Mayday Deadly Reputation" /> The judge claimed the runway needed to be {{convert|388|m}} longer for these aircraft to operate safely. At the time, a spokeswoman from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency claimed "The safety conditions of the runway and the airport as a whole are adequate."<ref name="BBC News1">{{cite news|title=Jets banned from São Paulo runway|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6337217.stm|work=BBC News|date=February 6, 2007|access-date=July 18, 2007|archive-date=September 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904001246/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6337217.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> TAM also objected to the decision, with a spokesman stating "If the injunction stands, it will cause total chaos," claiming over 10,000 passengers per day would be inconvenienced.<ref name="BBC News1" />

===Aftermath===
The airport reopened on July 19, 2007, using an alternative runway.<ref name="Reuters focus shift">{{cite news|last=Benson|first=Todd|date=July 20, 2007|title=Focus of Brazil air crash shifts away from runway|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN19425884|access-date=July 20, 2007|archive-date=March 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309090232/http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN19425884|url-status=live}}</ref>

Many flights, including all [[OceanAir]] and [[BRA Transportes Aéreos]], were transferred to [[Guarulhos International Airport]], the major airport in São Paulo, due to the closure of the main runway at Congonhas and the ongoing investigation of the accident.<ref name="Reuters focus shift" />

On July 20, [[Chief of Staff of the Presidency|Presidency Chief of Staff]] [[Dilma Rousseff]] announced plans to significantly reduce the number of flights operating at Congonhas. The plan included banning, within 60 days, all connection, stopover, charter, and international flights and the reduction in the number of private jets. The airport would only operate direct flights to certain cities in Brazil. The plan also called for a study of the expansion of São Paulo's two current airports and the construction of a third airport in the metropolitan area.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2007 |title=Dilma confirma: SP terá novo aeroporto |trans-title=Dilma confirms: SP will have a new airport |url=https://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL74121-5605,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126153011/http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL74121-5605,00.html |archive-date=November 26, 2022 |access-date= |website=g1.globo.com |language=pt}}</ref>

State crime scene investigators terminated the search for remains on July 28, 2007;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u315915.shtml|title=Peritos concluem varredura nos escombros do prédio da TAM Express|date=July 31, 2007|work=[[Folha de S. Paulo]]|language=pt|trans-title=Experts conclude sweeping of the TAM Express building|access-date=July 28, 2007|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606073201/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u315915.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> as of that date, 114 bodies recovered from the site had been identified by the São Paulo Medical Examiner's Office as those of passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u315933.shtml|title=Número de vítimas do acidente da TAM identificadas sobe para 104|date=July 28, 2007|work=[[Folha de S. Paulo]]|language=pt|trans-title=Number of TAM accident victims identified rises to 104|access-date=July 28, 2007|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606073212/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u315933.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Investigation==
[[File:Brigadeiro Jorge Kersul Filho.jpg|thumb|upright|Brigadier Jorge Kersul Filho, leading the investigation into the accident, during a press conference]]
[[File:TAM Linhas Aéreas Flight 3054 2.jpg|left|thumb|The wreckage of Flight 3054]]

The investigation was carried out by Brazil's [[Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center]] (CENIPA). Data from the [[flight data recorder]] and [[cockpit voice recorder]] (CVR) were downloaded by the [[National Transportation Safety Board]] (NTSB) in the United States commencing July 20 and 23 respectively.<ref name="flight-july25">{{cite web|last=Learmount|first=David|title=Airbus cleared to release TAM accident flight recorder information|publisher=[[Flight International]]|date=July 25, 2007|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/25/215718/airbus-cleared-to-release-tam-accident-flight-recorder.html|access-date=July 25, 2007|archive-date=August 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830213656/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/25/215718/airbus-cleared-to-release-tam-accident-flight-recorder.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="flight-july23">{{cite web|last=Learmount|first=David|title=Probe asks why Airbus A320 could not stop|publisher=[[Flight International]]|date=July 23, 2007|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/23/215642/probe-asks-why-airbus-a320-could-not-stop.html|access-date=July 23, 2007|archive-date=September 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930040923/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/23/215642/probe-asks-why-airbus-a320-could-not-stop.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Based on preliminary data from the FDR, on July 25 Airbus cautioned A320 operators to ensure that both thrust levers are set to idle during flare.<ref name="flight-july25" /> The transcript of the CVR was released on August 1.<ref name="cvr">{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/02/215872/tam-a320-crash-full-transcript-from-cockpit-voice-recorder.html|title=TAM A320 crash - full transcript from cockpit voice recorder|last=Targett|first=Michael|date=August 2, 2007|publisher=[[Flight International]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819185606/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/02/215872/tam-a320-crash-full-transcript-from-cockpit-voice-recorder.html|archive-date=August 19, 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=August 2, 2007}}</ref> It shows that the pilots were aware of the wet runway conditions and the deactivated thrust reverser.<ref name="flight-aug02">{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/02/215869/full-cockpit-voice-transcript-of-tam-a320-reveals-clues-to-crash.html|title=Full cockpit-voice transcript of TAM A320 reveals clues to crash|last=Kaminksi-Morrow|first=David|date=August 2, 2007|publisher=[[Flight International]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830200414/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/02/215869/full-cockpit-voice-transcript-of-tam-a320-reveals-clues-to-crash.html|archive-date=August 30, 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=August 2, 2007}}</ref> The pilots' comments suggest that the spoilers did not deploy and that they were unable to slow the aircraft.<ref name="flight-aug02" /> Crew error had not been ruled out.<ref name="throttle handling">{{cite web | last =Learmount | first =David | title =European JAA clarifies Airbus throttle handling rules following TAM crash | publisher =[[Flight International]] | date =November 16, 2007 | url =http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/16/219635/european-jaa-clarifies-airbus-throttle-handling-rules-following-tam.html | access-date =January 20, 2008 | archive-date =March 4, 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080304144213/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/16/219635/european-jaa-clarifies-airbus-throttle-handling-rules-following-tam.html | url-status =live }}</ref>

An investigation<ref name="afp">{{cite web |date=November 19, 2008 |title=Police charge 10 people in Brazil's worst plane crash |url=http://www.haaba.com/news/2008/11/19/7-216276/police-charge-10-people-in-brazils-worst-plane-crash |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226185021/http://www.haaba.com/news/2008/11/19/7-216276/police-charge-10-people-in-brazils-worst-plane-crash |archive-date=February 26, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |publisher=Agence France Presse |via=haaba.com}}</ref> by the [[Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Brazil)|Ministry of Justice and Public Security]] released in November 2008 concluded that the pilots mistakenly left the lever for the right engine to "climb" upon landing, due to a mistake in landing procedures with the right thrust reverser being disabled from a prior maintenance, when in fact it was necessary to retard both engines in order for the spoilers to work. They also said that the National Civil Aviation Agency should have closed the airport on the night the plane landed because of heavy rains; that Congonhas airport authorities shared the blame because its runway had not been properly constructed with grooves to drain away excess rainwater, contributing to the crash; that the plane's manufacturer, Airbus, should have provided alarms warning the pilots that the braking system was failing; and that TAM failed to properly train its pilots, who did not act correctly in the emergency.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=November 4, 2009 |title=Investigators: Pilot error likely in 2007 Sao Paulo's crash |url=https://eturbonews.com/investigators-pilot-error-likely-2007-sao-paulos-crash/ |access-date=September 7, 2022 |website=eTurboNews {{!}} eTN |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907213923/https://eturbonews.com/investigators-pilot-error-likely-2007-sao-paulos-crash/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Final report===
In September 2009, more than two years after the accident, CENIPA announced the results of official investigations. The report shows that one of the thrust levers, which control engines, was in position to accelerate when it should be in idle, but it was not proved if there was mechanical or human failure as the cause of the accident.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u646127.shtml|title=Sem apontar culpados, Aeronáutica divulga relatório sobre acidente da TAM|newspaper=[[Folha de S. Paulo]]|language=pt|trans-title=Not guilty, Aeronautics releases TAM crash report|access-date=April 20, 2010|archive-date=November 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126153010/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u646127.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL1362369-5605,00-FAMILIARES+DAS+VITIMAS+DO+VOO+DA+TAM+RECLAMAM+DE+RELATORIO+DA+PF.html|title=Familiares das vítimas do voo 3054 da TAM reclamam de relatório da PF|publisher=Globo G1 Notícias|language=pt|trans-title=Family members of TAM Flight 3054 victims complain about PF report|access-date=April 20, 2010|archive-date=November 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126153006/http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL1362369-5605,00-FAMILIARES+DAS+VITIMAS+DO+VOO+DA+TAM+RECLAMAM+DE+RELATORIO+DA+PF.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The report suggests two hypotheses for the accident. In the first, there was a flaw in the power control of the plane's engines, which would have kept one of the thrust levers into acceleration, regardless of their actual position. This scenario would implicate mechanical failure of the aircraft as the cause of the accident. The likelihood of this failure occurring is calculated at once per 400 billion flight hours, and therefore highly improbable. In the second hypothesis, the pilot has performed a procedure different from that provided in the manual, and put the thrust lever in an irregular position. This scenario would implicate human error as the cause of the accident.<ref name=":1" />

In addition to the positions of the thrust levers, the report points to several factors that may have contributed to the accident, such as a high volume of rain on the day, with the formation of puddles on the runway, as well as the absence of grooving. The report does not blame the length of the runway for the accident. The BEA also cleared Airbus of any misdoing because they had proposed a system warning modification regarding the incorrect thrust lever positions that TAM had rejected.<ref name=":1" />

==Response==
[[File:Brasilia em Luto TAM.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Flag of Brazil|Brazilian flag]] being flown at [[half-mast]] in [[Brasília]] on the anniversary of Flight 3054
]]
After the crash, President [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]] ordered three days of [[national day of mourning|national mourning]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL72081-5605,00.html|title=Luto oficial de três dias por acidente da TAM|language=pt|trans-title=Three-day official mourning for TAM accident|access-date=July 23, 2007|archive-date=November 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126153008/http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL72081-5605,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[2007 Pan American Games]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]], the Brazilian athletes wore a black armband in remembrance of the victims.<ref>{{cite news|author=Byrd|first=David|date=July 18, 2007|title=Brazilian Athletes Mourn Plane Crash Victims|publisher=[[Voice of America]]|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-07-18-voa74.cfm|url-status=dead|access-date=July 23, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818144209/http://voanews.com/english/2007-07-18-voa74.cfm|archive-date=August 18, 2007}}</ref> The flags of all participating countries were flown at [[half mast]] on July 18. Matches involving a Brazilian athlete or team started with a minute of silence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comitê dos jogos Pan-Americanos decreta luto por três dias nas competições |trans-title=Pan American Games Committee decrees three-day mourning in competitions |url=http://memoria.ebc.com.br/agenciabrasil/noticia/2007-07-18/comite-dos-jogos-pan-americanos-decreta-luto-por-tres-dias-nas-competicoes |access-date=September 7, 2022 |website=memoria.ebc.com.br |language=pt-br |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907210926/http://memoria.ebc.com.br/agenciabrasil/noticia/2007-07-18/comite-dos-jogos-pan-americanos-decreta-luto-por-tres-dias-nas-competicoes |url-status=live }}</ref>

All matches of the [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2007|Campeonato Brasileiro 2007]] started with a minute of silence, while all players wore black armbands.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Brasileiros da F-1 de luto pelo vôo da TAM |trans-title=Brazilians from F1 mourning the flight of TAM |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/Motor/0,,MUL74416-1311,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819014529/http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/Motor/0,,MUL74416-1311,00.html |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=September 7, 2022 |website=GloboEsporte.com |language=pt-BR}}</ref> Brazilian [[Formula One]] driver [[Felipe Massa]] had a black stripe on top of his helmet during the [[2007 European Grand Prix]], to commemorate the victims. [[Rubens Barrichello]] also had stripes on his helmet, and the two [[Red Bull Racing]] drivers [[David Coulthard]] and [[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]] had small Brazilian flags on their helmets referring to the accident.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Escuderia RedBull faz homenagem às vítimas do vôo 3054 |trans-title=Red Bull Scuderia pays tribute to the victims of Flight 3054 |url=https://esportes.estadao.com.br/noticias/velocidade,escuderia-redbull-faz-homenagem-as-vitimas-do-voo-3054,23530 |access-date=September 7, 2022 |website=Estadão |language=pt-BR |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907210914/https://esportes.estadao.com.br/noticias/velocidade,escuderia-redbull-faz-homenagem-as-vitimas-do-voo-3054,23530 |url-status=live }}</ref>

More than 5,000 Brazilians marched to the crash site on July 29, 2007, blaming their government's failure to invest in airport infrastructure for the crash. Many of the protesters also demanded Lula's ouster.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 30, 2007 |title=Brazilians blame gov't for jet crash |page=9 |work=AM New York Metro |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

=== International reactions ===
Reactions shown internationally were strong all expressed condolences.
*{{flag|Argentina}}: President [[Néstor Kirchner]] called president Lula to express condolences.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u312817.shtml|title=Presidente da Argentina presta solidariedade a Lula pelo acidente da TAM|website=www1.folha.uol.com.br|language=pt-br|trans-title=Argentine President gives solidarity to Lula for TAM accident|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=December 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201070543/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u312817.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|Chile}}: President [[Michelle Bachelet]] called president Lula to offer her condolences.<ref name=":0" />
* {{flag|China}}: President [[Hu Jintao]] expressed his condolences to the Brazilian government as well as the friends and families of the victims.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/brasil/ult96u312977.shtml|title=China envia condolências a Lula por acidente com avião da TAM - 18/07/2007 - Poder|website=Folha de S.Paulo|language=pt-br|trans-title=China sends condolences to Lula for TAM plane crash - Jul 18, 2007 - Power|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204210001/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/brasil/ult96u312977.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> 
*  {{flag|Germany}}: President [[Horst Köhler]] sent a telegram to President Lula expressing his condolences to the families of the victims. According to a statement reported by the German embassy in Brasilia, Germany would join the three-day mourning by lowering the flag at half-mast at the embassy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2015/04/alemanha-realiza-homenagem-vitimas-do-voo-da-germanwings.html|title=Alemanha realiza homenagem às vítimas do voo da TAM|date=April 17, 2015|website=Mundo|publisher=Da France Presse|language=pt-br|trans-title=Germany pays tribute to TAM flight victims|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723185114/http://g1.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2015/04/alemanha-realiza-homenagem-vitimas-do-voo-da-germanwings.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Mexico}}: Former president [[Vicente Fox]] expressed his condolences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jbonline.terra.com.br/extra/2007/07/18/e18079320.html|title=Jornal do Brasil - País - México envia condolências por acidente aéreo em São Paulo|date=July 9, 2012|website=archive.is|language=pt-BR|trans-title=Jornal do Brasil - Country - Mexico sends condolences for air crash in Sao Paulo|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709091906/http://www.jb.com.br/pais/noticias/2007/07/18/mexico-envia-condolencias-por-acidente-aereo-em-sao-paulo/|archive-date=July 9, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=July 23, 2019}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Peru}}: President [[Alan García|Alan Garcia]] expressed his condolences and requested to talk with president Lula.<ref name=":0" />
* {{flag|Spain}}: [[Felipe VI of Spain]] was in Brazil at the time of the accident and expressed condolences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bsbcapital.com.br/a320-o-aviao-vedete-da-airbus-que-ja-sofreu-inumeros-acidentes/|title=A320: o avião vedete da Airbus que já sofreu inúmeros acidentes|date=March 24, 2015|website=Brasília Capital|language=pt-BR|trans-title=A320: Airbus star plane that has suffered numerous accidents|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723185119/https://www.bsbcapital.com.br/a320-o-aviao-vedete-da-airbus-que-ja-sofreu-inumeros-acidentes/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{Flag|United States}}: President [[George W. Bush]], his spokesman [[Sean McCormack]], and secretary of state [[Condoleezza Rice]] all expressed their condolences. Rice also called Brazilian Foreign Minister [[Celso Amorim]] to express additional condolences.<ref name=":0" />
* {{Flag|Vatican}}: [[Odilo Scherer]], the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São Paulo|Archbishop of São Paulo]], received a telegram from [[Pope Benedict XVI]] signed by the Vatican's secretary of state [[Tarcisio Bertone]], expressing condolences as well as a mass for the victims.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/bbc/ult272u312906.shtml|title=Folha Online - BBC Brasil - Papa envia condolências às famílias das vítimas de acidente em São Paulo - 18/07/2007|website=www1.folha.uol.com.br|language=pt-BR|trans-title=Pope sends condolences to families of crash victims in São Paulo|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723185116/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/bbc/ult272u312906.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Venezuela}}: Foreign minister [[Nicolás Maduro]] expressed his condolences to Brazil's government and citizens.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://noticias.uol.com.br/cotidiano/ultimas-noticias/2013/07/17/parentes-de-vitimas-de-acidente-da-tam-lembram-os-seis-anos-da-tragedia-em-sp.htm |title=Parentes de vítimas de acidente da TAM fazem vigília para lembrar seis anos da tragédia |website=Noticias.uol.com.br |language=pt-br |trans-title=Relatives of TAM Accident Victims Wake to Remember Six Years of Tragedy |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723185117/https://noticias.uol.com.br/cotidiano/ultimas-noticias/2013/07/17/parentes-de-vitimas-de-acidente-da-tam-lembram-os-seis-anos-da-tragedia-em-sp.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Memorial ===
[[File:Memorial 17 de Julho.JPG|thumb|Memorial at the site of the accident]]

On July 17, 2012, the fifth anniversary of the accident, a plaza named Memorial Square was opened. Memorial Square was built on the site of the TAM express warehouse (demolished on August 5, 2007), which is {{Convert|8318|m2|ft2|abbr=}} in area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2012/07/inauguracao-de-memorial-da-tam-causa-emocao.html|title=Inauguração de Memorial da TAM causa emoção|last=Estado|first=Agencia|date=July 18, 2012|website=Brasil|language=pt-br|trans-title=TAM Memorial Inauguration Causes Thrill|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723185125/http://g1.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2012/07/inauguracao-de-memorial-da-tam-causa-emocao.html|url-status=live}}</ref> There is a memorial with the names of the victims engraved as well as a [[Morus (plant)|mulberry tree]] that survived the crash.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2012/07/minuto-de-silencio-lembra-momento-do-acidente-da-tam-ha-cinco-anos.html|title=Minuto de silêncio lembra momento do acidente da TAM há cinco anos|last=Duarte|first=Nathália|date=July 17, 2012|website=g1.globo.com|publisher=Do G1 SP|language=pt-br|trans-title=Minute of silence reminds moment of TAM accident five years ago|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723185112/http://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2012/07/minuto-de-silencio-lembra-momento-do-acidente-da-tam-ha-cinco-anos.html|url-status=live}}</ref> There is another memorial in [[Porto Alegre]] called "Largo da Vida," where 199 trees have been planted. The memorial is located near Salgado Filho International Airport (the airport from which Flight 3054 departed).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sao-paulo.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,em-porto-alegre-mais-emocao-imp-,901652|title=Em Porto Alegre, mais emoção - São Paulo|website=estadão.com.br|language=pt-BR|trans-title=In Porto Alegre, more excitement - São Paulo|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723185119/https://sao-paulo.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,em-porto-alegre-mais-emocao-imp-,901652|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Legal action==
On November 19, 2008, the 13,600-page police investigation was completed, which took 16 months of research to produce, during which 336 people were heard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gauchazh.clicrbs.com.br/geral/noticia/2014/04/ministerio-publico-federal-pede-a-condenacao-de-dois-investigados-na-tragedia-da-tam-4468360.html|title=Ministério Público Federal pede a condenação de dois investigados na tragédia da TAM|date=April 7, 2014|website=GaúchaZH|language=pt-BR|trans-title=Federal Public Prosecutor calls for conviction of two investigated in TAM tragedy|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723191250/https://gauchazh.clicrbs.com.br/geral/noticia/2014/04/ministerio-publico-federal-pede-a-condenacao-de-dois-investigados-na-tragedia-da-tam-4468360.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Federal prosecutors were of the opinion that the former director of the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), [[:pt:Denise Abreu|Denise Abreu]] (who had taken up the post in March 2006), and the flight safety officer of the airline, Marco Aurelio dos Santos de Miranda, should both face criminal charges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jornalggn.com.br/noticia/denise-abreu-o-lobby-que-ajudou-na-tragedia-da-tam/|title=Denise Abreu: o lobby que ajudou na tragédia da TAM|last=Nassif|first=Luis|date=February 15, 2014|website=GGN|language=pt-BR|trans-title=Denise Abreu: The Lobby That Helped the TAM Tragedy|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723191249/https://jornalggn.com.br/noticia/denise-abreu-o-lobby-que-ajudou-na-tragedia-da-tam/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, the Brazilian Federal Public Ministry (Ministério Público Federal—MPF) laid criminal charges against Abreu and Miranda, as well as Alberto Fajerman, TAM's vice president of operations.  They were accused of neglecting air transport safety by allowing the aircraft to land in heavy rain on the notoriously short, recently resurfaced runway before cutting of grooves to channel away excess rainwater. The trial began in São Paulo in 2013.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|date=August 8, 2013|title=Brazil trial over plane crash that killed 199|work=BBC News|publisher=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-23609524|access-date=April 6, 2015|archive-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128163634/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-23609524|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, MPF withdrew the charges against Fajerman, for lack of evidence.<ref name="MPF">{{cite web |author= |date=April 7, 2014 |title=TAM JJ3054 - MPF pede pena de até 24 anos para responsáveis por acidente aéreo que resultou na morte de 199 pessoas em 2007 |trans-title=TAM JJ3054 - MPF faces sentence of up to 24 years for those responsible for air crash that resulted in the deaths of 199 people in 2007 |url=http://www.mpf.mp.br/sp/migracao/sala-de-imprensa-unidadeprsp/noticias_prsp/07-04-14-tam-jj3054-mpf-pede-pena-de-ate-24-anos-para-responsaveis-por-acidente-aereo-que-resultou-na-morte-de-199-pessoas-em-2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129055740/http://www.mpf.mp.br/sp/migracao/sala-de-imprensa-unidadeprsp/noticias_prsp/07-04-14-tam-jj3054-mpf-pede-pena-de-ate-24-anos-para-responsaveis-por-acidente-aereo-que-resultou-na-morte-de-199-pessoas-em-2007 |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |access-date=April 7, 2015 |website=MPF |publisher=Public Prosecutor's Office in the State of S. Paulo |language=pt}}</ref> A second charge against Abreu of "documentary falsehood" was dismissed in November 2014.<ref name="Estadão">{{cite news|url=http://politica.estadao.com.br/blogs/fausto-macedo/stj-anula-acusacao-de-falsidade-documental-contra-ex-diretora-da-anac/|title=STJ anula acusação de 'falsidade documental' contra ex-diretora da ANAC|last=Macedo|first=Fausto|date=November 12, 2014|access-date=April 7, 2015|newspaper=Estadão|language=pt|trans-title=STJ cancels complaint of 'documentary falsehood' against former director of ANAC|archive-date=March 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320204501/http://politica.estadao.com.br/blogs/fausto-macedo/stj-anula-acusacao-de-falsidade-documental-contra-ex-diretora-da-anac/|url-status=dead}}</ref> All of the accused were eventually acquitted of all charges.  

In 2014, TAM's insurer Itaú Seguros, the company responsible for paying compensation for the tragedy, launched a lawsuit in Brazil against Airbus for [[Brazilian real|R$]]350 million (US$156.2 million), according to ''[[Folha de S. Paulo]]''. Attorneys representing Airbus responded in a Brazilian court filing that Airbus accepts no responsibility, laying the blame for the disaster with the cockpit crew, the airline and the poor state of the runway.<ref name="Fox">{{cite news|date=September 1, 2014|title=Airbus rejects any blame for deadly 2007 crash in Brazil|work=[[Fox News Channel|FOX News Network, LLC]]|publisher=EFE|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/09/01/airbus-rejects-any-blame-for-deadly-2007-crash-in-brazil/|url-status=dead|access-date=April 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412215203/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/09/01/airbus-rejects-any-blame-for-deadly-2007-crash-in-brazil/|archive-date=April 12, 2015}}</ref>

==Notable victims==
Among the victims were:
* [[Júlio Redecker]] (aged 51), a [[Brazilian Social Democracy Party]] federal politician, member and leader of the opposition in the [[Chamber of Deputies of Brazil]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/07/18/materia.2007-07-18.9399401592/view|title=Listas de nomes divulgada pela TAM ultrapassam previsão oficial de 176 passageiros|author=Chagas|first=Marcos|last2=Milani|first2=Aloisio|date=July 17, 2007|publisher=[[Agência Brasil]]|language=pt|trans-title=Name lists released by TAM exceed official forecast of 176 passengers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928020254/http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/07/18/materia.2007-07-18.9399401592/view|archive-date=September 28, 2007|access-date=July 18, 2007|quote=71.Julio Cesar Redecker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psdb.org.br/noticias.asp?id=30878|title=Redecker estava no vôo da TAM que pegou fogo em SP|date=July 17, 2007|publisher=[[Brazilian Social Democracy Party]]|language=pt|trans-title=Redecker was on the TAM flight that caught fire in SP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928090615/http://www.psdb.org.br/noticias.asp?id=30878|archive-date=September 28, 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=July 18, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/acidentecongonhas/interna/0,,OI1765928-EI10210,00.html|title=Deputado do RS estava no vôo que sofreu acidente|date=July 17, 2007|publisher=[[Terra Networks|Terra Brasil]]|language=pt|trans-title=Deputy of RS was on the flight that suffered an accident|access-date=July 18, 2007|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201941/http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/acidentecongonhas/interna/0,,OI1765928-EI10210,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Paulo Rogério Amoretty Souza]] (aged 61), former chairman of the football team [[Sport Club Internacional]] and attorney for [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/07/18/materia.2007-07-18.9399401592/view|title=Listas de nomes divulgada pela TAM ultrapassam previsão oficial de 176 passageiros|author=Chagas|first=Marcos|last2=Milani|first2=Aloisio|date=July 17, 2007|publisher=[[Agência Brasil]]|language=pt|trans-title=Name lists released by TAM exceed official forecast of 176 passengers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928020254/http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/07/18/materia.2007-07-18.9399401592/view <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=September 28, 2007|access-date=July 18, 2007|quote=106.Paulo Rogerio Amoretty Souza}}</ref>
* [[Márcio Rogério de Andrade]] (aged 35), former football player and [[FIFA]] agent at the time of the crash. His spouse, his daughter and his brother-in-law also died in the disaster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Família viajava no vôo da TAM |trans-title=Family Traveling on TAM Flight |url=http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL72634-5605,00.html |access-date=March 28, 2019 |website=g1.globo.com |language=pt |archive-date=October 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023180750/http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/SaoPaulo/0,,MUL72634-5605,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Dramatization==
The documentary television series ''[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Mayday]]'', also known as ''Air Disasters'', examined the crash and investigation in a Season 11 episode titled "Deadly Reputation" (and alternatively "Nightmare Runway" and "Disaster Runway"), which features interviews with investigators and a dramatic recreation of the accident.<ref name="Mayday Deadly Reputation">{{Cite episode |title=Deadly Reputation|series=[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Mayday]]|network=[[Discovery Channel Canada]] / [[National Geographic Channel]] |season=11 |date=2011 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Brazil|Aviation}}
* [[Philippine Airlines Flight 137]] – Another Airbus A320 that crashed nine years earlier under almost identical circumstances, with 3 fatalities
* [[S7 Airlines Flight 778]] – An Airbus A310 that crashed one year earlier also with a deactivated thrust reverser, killing 125 people
* [[TAP Flight 425]] – A Boeing 727 that overran a runway and fell down an embankment, killing 131
* [[Air India Express Flight 812]] – A Boeing 737 that overran a tabletop runway and plunged into a ditch, killing 158
* [[TACA Flight 390]] – Another Airbus A320 that crashed into a neighborhood after overrunning the runway, killing 5
*[[Jeju Air Flight 2216]] – A Boeing 737 that crashed into a concrete barrier after a belly landing and runway excursion, killing 179

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{Cite book |title=Perda Total |last=Sant'anna |first=Ivan |publisher=Objetiva |date=2011 |isbn=9788539002597 |location=Rio de Janeiro |language=pt-BR |trans-title=Total loss |chapter=Parte 2 — Rota de Colisão |trans-chapter=Part 2 — Collision Course }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|TAM Airlines Flight 3054}}
{{Wikinews|TAM Linhas Aéreas plane crashes at São Paulo airport in Brazil}}
{{External media
| float  = right
| width  =
| image1 = [http://www.airliners.net/search?registrationActual=PR-MBK&display=detail Pre-accident pictures of aircraft at Airliners.net]
| image2 = [https://www.jetphotos.com/registration/PR-MBK Pre-accident pictures of aircraft at JetPhotos.com]}}
* [[Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center|CENIPA]]
** [http://sistema.cenipa.aer.mil.br/cenipa/paginas/relatorios/rf/en/3054ing_2007.pdf Final Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020210519/http://sistema.cenipa.aer.mil.br/cenipa/paginas/relatorios/rf/en/3054ing_2007.pdf |date=October 20, 2019 }} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20231010182743/https://sistema.cenipa.fab.mil.br/cenipa/paginas/relatorios/rf/en/3054ing_2007.pdf Archive])
** [https://sistema.cenipa.fab.mil.br/cenipa/paginas/relatorios/rf/pt/pr_mbk_17_07_2007.pdf Final Report] {{in lang|pt}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20091122085144/http://www.cenipa.aer.mil.br/cenipa/paginas/relatorios/pdf/RF3054.pdf Archive])
* [[LATAM Airlines Brasil|TAM Airlines]]
** [http://www.tam.com.br/b2c/jsp/default.jhtml?adPagina=3&adArtigo=10742 Comunicados TAM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824014254/http://www.tam.com.br/b2c/jsp/default.jhtml?adPagina=3&adArtigo=10742 |date=August 24, 2007 }} {{in lang|pt}} (Press releases from TAM regarding the incident) ([https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.tam.com.br/b2c/jsp/default.jhtml?adPagina=3&adArtigo=10742 Archive])
** [http://www.taminforma.com.br/ TAM Informa]{{in lang|pt}} (Material from TAM Airlines about the incident) ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011013704/http://www.taminforma.com.br/ |date=October 11, 2007 }})
* [[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]]
** [http://www.bea.aero/en/enquetes/saopaulo/saopaulo.php Accident in São Paulo on 17 July 2007] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120118154715/http://www.bea.aero/en/enquetes/saopaulo/saopaulo.php Archive])
** [http://www.bea.aero/fr/enquetes/saopaulo/saopaulo.php Accident survenu à São Paulo le 17 juillet 2007] {{in lang|fr}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120119060240/http://www.bea.aero/fr/enquetes/saopaulo/saopaulo.php Archive])
* [http://www.bea.aero/fr/enquetes/saopaulo/bfucp.pdf Press Release] - [[German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation]] {{in lang|de}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150620193353/http://www.bea.aero/fr/enquetes/saopaulo/bfucp.pdf Archive])
* {{ASN accident|id=20070717-0}}
* [https://tailstrike.com/database/17-july-2007-tam-3054/ Cockpit Voice Recorder transcript and accident summary]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6903885.stm In pictures: Brazil plane crash (BBC)]
* [http://noticias.uol.com.br/uolnews/brasil/2007/07/18/ult2486u946.jhtm Video from Congonhas airport security camera, comparing a normal landing with TAM flight 3054's landing] {{in lang|pt}}
* [http://www.slate.com/id/2170727/nav/tap3/ The World's Worst Airline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113172330/http://www.slate.com/id/2170727/nav/tap3 |date=January 13, 2010 }} - Elizabeth Spiers
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/world/americas/18brazil.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin Plane Crashes in Brazil]
* [http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/07/18/tam.list.pdf List of passengers on Flight 3054] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130718185713/http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/07/18/tam.list.pdf Archive])
*[http://www.eupodiatamatando.com/2007/07/20/sobre-o-voo-3054/ Photographs] {{in lang|pt}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20081120191501/http://www.eupodiatamatando.com/2007/07/20/sobre-o-voo-3054/ Archive])
* {{YouTube|id=v=K3_A6Rvnnh0|title=CVR recording}}
* {{YouTube|id=wsL-flvKAvU|title=Analysis of the accident and review of the CENIPA Final Report by a commercial aircraft pilot and training captain}}

{{Aviation accidents and incidents in Brazil}}
{{Aviation incidents and accidents in 2007}}

{{Good article}}

[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by weather]]
[[Category:Filmed deaths during aviation accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:2007 disasters in Brazil]]
[[Category:21st century in São Paulo]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Airbus A320]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2007]]
[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error]]
[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents involving runway overruns]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Brazil]]
[[Category:TAM Airlines accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:Transport in São Paulo]]
[[Category:July 2007 in South America]]