Crash of an Embraer C-95A Bandeirante off Angra dos Reis: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2290
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Porto Alegre - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
110-172
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising along the coast, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in the sea off Angra dos Reis. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 748-2A-235 in Porto Alegre

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VDU
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Porto Alegre - Porto Alegre
MSN:
1632
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (a pilot under supervision and an instructor) were engaged in a local training flight at Porto Alegre Airport. After liftoff, while in initial climb, the crew retracted the gear when the airplane stalled and crashed back onto the runway, slid for several yards and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The takeoff was performed with a simulated failure of the right engine. Incorrect procedure used by the instructor by simulating the engine failure below V1 and attempting to unstick the aircraft below minimum control speed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Passo Fundo: 15 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1963
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VBV
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Porto Alegre – Passo Fundo
MSN:
15444/26889
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
RG280
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
On approach to Passo Fundo Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility. On final, the aircraft was too low, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located few km short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 13 passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Error of judgement on the part of the pilot in attempting to fly visually in unfavorable weather conditions during twilight.

Crash of a Boeing 707-441 near Lima: 97 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1962 at 0340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VJB
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Porto Alegre – Lima – Bogotá – Panama City – Mexico City – Los Angeles
MSN:
17906
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
RG810
Country:
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
80
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
97
Captain / Total flying hours:
13640
Captain / Total hours on type:
1641.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
16304
Copilot / Total hours on type:
642
Aircraft flight hours:
6326
Circumstances:
A Boeing 707-441 passenger jet, operated by Varig, was destroyed when it crashed into the side of La Cruz Peak, near Lima, Peru. All 80 passengers and 17 crew members were killed. Flight RG810 departed Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport at 03:53 hours UTC on a scheduled flight to Los Angeles (LAX) with en route stops at Lima (LIM), Peru , Bogotá (BOG), Colombia, Panama City (PTY), Panama and Mexico City (MEX), Mexico. At 08:09 the flight reported to Air Traffic Control, Lima, at 36 000 feet, estimating Pisco at 08:13 and Lima-Callao Airport at 08:36 and requested permission to descend. Lima ATC advised of a DC-6, which had departed Lima at 07:35 and was also estimating Pisco at 08:13 when it would be cruising at 13500 feet. After passing Pisco at 08:13, the crew started their descent. At 08:19 hours RG-810 reached 26000 feet. Authorization was granted to continue descending for a straight-in approach to runway 33. At 08:24 it reported to Approach Control ten minutes from the station, at 15 000 feet, still in descent. By 08:30 hours it had reached 12000 feet over Las Palmas. As it was too high for a straight-in approach to runway 33, Approach Control suggested that it make a 360-degree turn over Las Palmas and report again overhead Las Palmas. The aircraft continued descending. It turned slightly right of its 330 degree heading, passing east of Lima Airport, then made a left turn and passed over Lima-Callao Airport. It continued turning until it was headed south, passing west of Las Palmas in order to initiate the outbound procedure from the ILS back course, and then made a 180 degree turn to intercept the ILS back course (327 degrees). However, it kept to the normal intercept course for almost three minutes before starting its turn to the north. Its heading was 333 degrees when it hit La Cruz Peak, about 8 miles east of the approach track of the Morro Solar ILS back course.
Probable cause:
A deviation, for reasons unknown, from the track prescribed for the instrument approach along the ILS back course of Lima-Callao Airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Pelotas: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1960 at 1420 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CDS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jaguarão – Rio Grande – Pelotas – Porto Alegre
MSN:
4823
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Jaguarão to Porto Alegre with intermediate stops at Rio Grande and Pelotas on behalf of Varig. During the takeoff roll, the airplane deviated to the right. The pilot-in-command elected to regain control but due to over-correction, the airplane turned sharply to the left, swung on runway and eventually veered off runway to the left before colliding with two parked DC-3 (registered PP-ABZ and PP-HDJ). A fire erupted and all three aircraft were destroyed by fire. While both other aircraft were empty at the time of the accident, both pilots and eight passengers were killed, the other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to pilots error - incorrect use of the brakes and control while on the ground. Wrong takeoff configuration on part of the flying crew.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16 Albatross off Porto Alegre: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1959 at 0330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
6536
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
G-39
YOM:
1950
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The seaplane crashed into the Rio Guaíba while approaching Porto Alegre by night. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in Montevideo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1957 at 2120 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AQE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Paulo – Porto Alegre – Montevideo – Buenos Aires
MSN:
456
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
From the evidence collected there is no doubt that the accident was due to pilot error. Nevertheless, the Commission found no actual proof of what caused this error. The possible factor of malfunction of flight material or ground aids and services has been ruled out. The pilot-in-command is unable to explain why the aircraft struck the ground when, according to his visual estimation and instrument reading, he should have had about 80 metres clearance. He was so certain of this that he was entirely convinced of having collided with another aircraft. From the only altimeter which was in a condition to be examined, it was seen that at least the copilot should have had a true reading of the distance from the ground. When the pilot last observed the instrument, it read 100 metres. At this very moment his visibility was reduced to nil, as he entered a small fog patch (below the correct track) and switched on his landing lights, thereby reducing or eliminating the possibility of direct visual reference. It should be pointed out that at the point where visibility cleared again before impact, the runway provided the pilot's only visual reference, as the entire area below was almost completely dark, apart from the fact that it was probably covered by a very thin layer of fog on the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Bagé: 40 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VCF
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bagé – Porto Alegre
MSN:
30283
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Circumstances:
Just after take-off, the pilot noticed an incipient fire in the left engine. Acting in accordance with airline regulations, he feathered the damaged engine, returning to the traffic pattern for a landing circuit and carrying out routine radio communications. On final approach, when he considered that a safe landing could be made, he operated the undercarriage lowering mechanism. Because of the intensity of th'e fire, which was in the undercarriage housing and not, as the pilot thought, in the engine, some parts must already have melted and the undercarriage did not respond to the mechanism. Apparently the critical situation had already passed, since the fire, although intense, was not producing much smoke. The pilot, therefore, decided to give full throttle, in order to avoid a belly landing. In this he was still following airline regulations. After this action, when the aircraft reached the intersection of runways 05 and 23, flames enveloped the left wing and detached it from the fuselage. The aircraft hit the ground and was destroyed. All occupants, 5 crew members and 35 passengers, were killed.
Probable cause:
The main cause of the accident was fire in the undercarriage housing and consequent breaking-off of the left wing in flight. A contributing cause was an error in judgment. The pilot failed to assess the intensity of the fire in the undercarriage housing, having thought that the fire was in the left engine and that by applying the procedure prescribed in "Regulations for C-46", the fire had been extinguished or had become inconsequential.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in São Paulo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1954 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VBZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
São Paulo – Porto Alegre
MSN:
30400
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to prepare the flight properly and failed to adhere to the operator procedures. As the crew did not follow the pre-departure checklist, he failed to remove the elevator lock prior to takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Bom Jesus: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1952 at 1510 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AXJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo – Porto Alegre – Buenos Aires
MSN:
6177
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft left São Paulo-Congonhas Airport at 1145LT bound for Porto Alegre. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew obtained the permission to reduce his altitude to 3,000 feet. While flying in poor visibility due to heavy rain falls, the pilot-in-command did not realize that his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft hit trees. The left wing was sheared off and the aircraft crashed into the forest of Aparados da Serra located about 5 km southeast of Bom Jesus. Four passengers were rescued while 14 other occupants were killed, among them the Argentinian musicians Miguel Cao and Ivo Schwanter.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was caused by a faulty navigation on part of the flying crew who failed to take the appropriate actions to determine his exact en route position and flight course. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions was considered as a contributory factor.