Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

Shortly after rotation, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The crew feathered the propeller and the captain decided to make an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed and slid for several before coming to rest in flames in a gully located 4 miles southeast of the airfield. A passenger died while 19 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft was destroyed.

While on final approach to Seville-San Pablo Airport, the crew was able to send a brief mayday message, reporting that the aircraft caught fire. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed onto a hill located 4 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 18 occupants were killed.

The aircraft was proceeding from Florianópolis when over NDB CT it received instructions from the tower to initiate the approach procedure for Runway 33, whereupon the pilot started his intermediate approach. After three minutes, since the aircraft had not reported on base turn, the tower operator called the pilot to check the aircraft's position, but received no reply. Having lost two-way radio contact, the tower gave the alarm, and later learned that the aircraft had crashed. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission found chat in the final phase of the intermediate approach leg, the base turn and the beginning of the final approach, the aircraft was flying in cumulonimbus. It was therefore concluded that downward currents had affected the rate of descent to the extent of making the aircraft lose altitude and ultimately crash to the ground. Five crew members and 16 passengers were killed and 5 passengers were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Sao Paulo to Porto Alegre, Montevideo (Carrasco) and Buenos Aires . Thirty passengers and five crew were aboard. At Porto Alegre the aircraft was refuelled and took off at 1917 hours for Montevideo with 1 471 gallons on board. It passed over Treinta y Tres at 2039 hours, flying at 2 400 metres, IFR. Over Minas the aircraft was cleared to descent to 1 200 metres and was instructed by the control centre to call back when 50 km out from the aerodrome. The flight again contacted the control centre from that point. The aircraft was transferred to aerodrome control and overflew the CAR radio beacon at 2115 hours, at 600 metres, visual. It carried out a visual approach procedure as the runway lights were clearly visible throughout. However, it undershot and the port and nose wheels hit a small earth bank bordering highway 102. It is considered that the aircraft was correctly aligned with the runway, or was perhaps making a slight left turn in order to correct a small deviation. The starboard wing touched ground some 2 metres further on. Some 170 metres further on the aircraft lost both propellers and the starboard engine. The starboard wing broke off causing the entire fuselage to effect a turn of 180° on its longitudinal axis. At the same time, unequal friction against the ground caused the body of the fuselage to skid to the right, turn on its vertical axis and come to rest 380 metres from impact. The slope, though slight, contributed to the downward movement of the aircraft. The accident occurred between 2119 and 2121 hours. One crew member was killed.

The aircraft departed from San Diego, California, at 0407LT on 12 July for Zurich Airport, Switzerland, with two American pilots at the control, on a delivery flight to Swissair. Intermediate stops included New York, Gander and Shannon. Having left New York at 1240 GMT on 14 July 1956, the aircraft landed at Gander at 1659 GMT. After a stop of 57 minutes, it left Gander for Shannon at 1748 GMT carrying the same crew of 4 members. Following an uneventful ocean crossing the aircraft at 0008 hours on 15 July was given initial descent clearance to Shannon and was then cleared into the Shannon Holding Pattern, where four other aircraft were holding. At 0125 hours the aircraft commenced a Ground Controlled Approach to runway 23 and on establishing visual reference to the ground broke off the approach for a left-hand visual circuit to runway 05. During the turn onto final approach to runway 05, the aircraft, while banking steeply was observed to drop. The aircraft was destroyed on impact with the ground at approximately 0135LT and the 4 occupants were killed. There was no fire.