Natal

Schedule:

Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro – Natal – Dakar – Lisbon – Paris – London

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On touchdown by night at Natal Airport, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, collided with airport facilities and came to rest in flames. Three crew members and two passengers were killed while 13 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in Bathurst: 24 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1946 at 0410 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 685 York

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHEW

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

London – Lisbon – Bathurst – Natal – Rio de Janeiro – Montevideo – Buenos Aires

MSN:

1300

YOM:

1946

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The aircraft arrived in Bathurst at 0243LT from Lisbon and the crew was changed. The departure was performed at 0408LT in fair weather conditions. Two minutes later, while in initial climb, the aircraft failed to gain height and hit few trees with its left wing. It then banked left and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 3 km from the airport. The aircraft christened 'Star Leader' was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the loss of control during initial climb was probably due to a mishandling of the controls on behalf of the pilot in command. It was confirmed by investigations that it was the captain's first York flight on a scheduled service, and it was also the first takeoff he made in a York loaded to more than 69,000 lb.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 2A into the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 170 Freighter

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHJB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Bristol – Bathurst – Natal – Rio de Janeiro

MSN:

12734

YOM:

1946

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The crew was on his way to Rio de Janeiro to deliver the aircraft to the Brazilian operator Real Aerovias. While at cruising level off Aracaju, both engines failed simultaneously. The captain ditched the aircraft about 198 km off the Brazilian coast. While the aircraft sank and was lost, all five crew members were rescued by the crew of an American merchant ship.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure due to a fuel exhaustion caused by a navigational error on part of the crew.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-5-CK Commando in Natal

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

43-46997

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Site:

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YOM:

1944

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Crashed on take off from Natal-Parnamirim Airport. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Natal: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-61058

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

MSN:

26933

YOM:

1944

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After take off from Natal-Parnamirim Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field, some 1,2 km past the runway end. Both pilots were killed while all three passengers were injured.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Natal: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1944 at 1252 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

46520

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Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Belém - Recife

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The aircraft was completing a flight from Belém to Recife with a crew of ten on board, among them an officer. While flying some 65 km west of Natal in poor weather conditions, the crew made his last radio contact at 1252LT. Shortly later, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a pasture, killing all ten occupants. At the time of the accident, the weather conditions were as follow: rain falls, cloudy with cumulus till 9,000 feet , stratus till 10,000 feet and wind from 150 degrees at 10 knots.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK near Açu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1944 at 1302 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

KG508

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Belém - Natal

MSN:

12912

YOM:

1944

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The aircraft left Belém at 0620LT bound for Natal with an ETA at 1338LT. While cruising overt the State of Rio Grande do Norte in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located 13 km east of Açu. All three occupants based at RAF Nassau, Bahamas, were killed. At the time of the accident, meteorological conditions were as follow: stratus, cumulus, turbulence and heavy rain falls.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express into the Atlantic Ocean: 26 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1943 at 2300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

41-11708

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Schedule:

Accra – Georgetown – Natal

MSN:

204

YOM:

1941

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While overflying the Atlantic Ocean by night, on the leg from Georgetown (Ascension Island) to Natal, while on a flight from Accra to Natal, the aircraft disappeared into the Ocean around 2300LT. SAR operations were conducted for several days but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Two life vests were discovered on a Brazilian beach few days later.

Probable cause:

US military authorities reported that at the time of the accident, whose causes remain unknown, weather conditions prevailing above the center of the Atlantic Ocean were marginal due to the presence of thick clouds and heavy rain falls. It is also reported that lifeboats were found on seas nearly 100 km east of Recife on February 4, 1943, with dead bodies on board. This means that some passengers escaped the accident and managed to take refuge in dinghies. Analyses carried out on the bodies determined that the last survivor died of fatigue, hunger and thirst on February 3, 1943, two weeks after the accident. Without concrete elements, no part of the aircraft having been found, investigators were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Natal: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

7252

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

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