Crash of a Vickers 827 Viscount in Rio de Janeiro: 42 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1959 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SRG
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Brasilia – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
401
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
VP233
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Circumstances:
While approaching Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport in good weather conditions, the Viscount collided with a Brazilian Air Force Fokker T-21 (S.11) registered 0742. Its pilot was completing a local training flight when the collision occurred about 4 km south of the airfield. While the pilot of the trainer plane was able to eject and was later recovered uninjured, his aircraft crashed in Joaquim de Queiroz street. Out of control, the Viscount dove into the ground and crashed in the Peçanha Póvoas street, in the district of Ramos. Several houses were destroyed and all 32 occupants on board the Viscount were killed as well as 10 people on the ground.
Probable cause:
Failure of both pilots to maintain adequate lookout for other aircraft. Apparently, the pilot of the trainer aircraft was not supposed to cross the approach path of the Viscount.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation in Rio de Janeiro: 36 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1959 at 1117 LT
Operator:
Registration:
D-ALAK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hamburg – Frankfurt – Paris – Lisbon – Dakar – Recife – Rio de Janeiro – Buenos Aires
MSN:
4602
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
LH502
Country:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
The Super Constellation operated on flight LH502 from Hamburg, Germany to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The crew were cleared to descend from 4,200 m to 3,000 m when 20 min out from Rio de Janeiro. They were to maintain 3,000 m to the KX NDB in preparation for an approach and landing at runway 14. Over KX they were cleared to descend to 900 m. Galeão Approach was contacted and normal position reports were made. The plane descended over Guanabara Bay under rainy conditions and struck the water with the nose wheel. The crew then presumably tried to continue the approach, but the Constellation crashed near Flecheiras Beach, short of the Galeão runway. The airplane was destroyed by fire and seven crew members and all 29 passengers were killed. Only three crew members survived. Crew duty and flight time exceeded the Brazilian limits but did not exceed the German limitations.
Probable cause:
In spite of an exhaustive investigation it was not possible to determine the actual cause. However, the probable cause was considered to be pilot error in descending below the minimum altitude on final approach. Aircrew fatigue was considered to be a contributing factor.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-LDH
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
30350
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Due to foggy conditions, the Santos Dumont Airport was closed to trafic and the crew diverted to Galeão Airport where the passengers disembarked. When the weather conditions improved, the crew was able to complete a short ferry flight back from Galeão to Santos Dumont. After touchdown on runway 02, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and plunged into the Guanabara Bay. All five crew members were injured and the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed too far down the runway.

Crash of a Hurel-Dubois HD.321.02 off Rio de Janeiro: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BHHA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
02
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a demo flight to the Brazilian Air Force. In unknown circumstances, it went out of control and crashed into the Bay of Guanabara about 10 km off the Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport. Six occupants were rescued while a passenger was killed. The aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1956
Operator:
Registration:
2056
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Santa Cruz
MSN:
19055
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport, enroute to Santa Cruz AFB, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage that were raised but could not be lowered again. In such conditions, the captain decided to return to Galeão Airport for a safe landing. The aircraft belly landed and skidded for dozen yards before coming to rest on the runway. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Technical difficulties with undercarriage.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m off Maricá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1953 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-DZY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vitória – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
6510
YOM:
1939
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Vitória to Rio de Janeiro. The three engine aircraft was spotted in poor weather conditions between the cities of Araruama, Saquarema and Maricá, between 1600 and 1700LT. It then disappeared in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is possible the aircraft crashed into the Ocean off Maricá.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL off Rio de Janeiro: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
2049
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
13862
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport. In flight, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Guanabara Bay, off the island of Boqueirão. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1953 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2837
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Francisco – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
A-409
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport on a mail flight from São Francisco on behalf of the Correio Aéreo Nacional, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage that failed to deploy. He turn for about an hour over Rio de Janeiro and eventually performed a belly landing. The aircraft slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. All three occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage failed to deploy.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049-46-21 Constellation in São Paulo: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1953 at 2200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PDA
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
2066
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
PB263
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The approach to Congonhas Airport was completed by night and poor weather conditions. On final, the aircraft was too low and hit trees before crashing in flames in a wooded area located 6,5 km short of runway 34, in the district of Americanópolis. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 17 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude, in breach of the published procedures.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CS Commando in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-ITF
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
382
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, the crew encountered severe turbulences. On the last segment, the airplane hit the ground short of runway. On impact, the right main gear was sheared off and the right engine was damaged. The pilot in command increased power on both engines and diverted to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport for a safe landing. On touchdown, the airplane went out of control and came to rest in flames. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.