Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO off Ilha Rasa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1959 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-NAZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
7387
YOM:
1942
Location:
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea about 16 km off Ilha Rasa, south of Rio de Janeiro. Few debris were found floating on water few hours after the crash. The main wreckage and both pilots pilots bodies were found later on. The crew was completing a pilot proficiency check flight.

Crash of a Saab Scandia 90A-1 in São Paulo: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1959 at 1840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Saab Scandia
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SQV
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
106
YOM:
1950
Location:
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff by night, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and struck power cables. It stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 4,5 km from the airport. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire and all 20 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.

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

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-LDH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
30350
YOM:
1944
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
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 Saab Scandia 90A-2 off Rio de Janeiro: 21 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1958 at 1209 LT
Type of aircraft:
Saab Scandia
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SQE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
103
YOM:
1950
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while climbing to a height of 50 meters, the left engine failed. The crew completed a turn to the left, continued for about 500 meters and then made a second turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. All four crew members and 17 passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to the pilot incorrect handling of the controls in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Rio de Janeiro: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Belém
MSN:
33304
YOM:
1945
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, just prior to rotation, the airplane struck a hole in the runway surface, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Rio de Janeiro: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
PP-LEM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Fortaleza
MSN:
18336
YOM:
1944
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the engine number four caught fire and exploded. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking manoeuvre. About 100 meters before the runway end, a tire on the left main gear burst. The airplane veered off runway and came to rest in flames. Two crew members and three passengers were killed, 11 passengers were unhurt and 57 others were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number four during takeoff.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-FA Packet off Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CEH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
10115
YOM:
1945
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while on a local training flight, the airplane stalled and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. Both pilots were injured while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando off Aracruz: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Paraguay Air Services
Registration:
ZP-CBM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Asunción – Rio de Janeiro – Belém – Miami
MSN:
30554
YOM:
1944
Location:
Aracruz
Espírito Santo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Asunción to Miami with intermediate stops at Rio de Janeiro and Belém. It left Santos Dumont Airport at Rio de Janeiro at 1752LT bound to the northeast. While cruising along the shore, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Aracruz. All five occupants were killed. It was reported the aircraft was carrying a load of 140 kg of platine and about 70 millions of US$ in cash.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was the result of an act of sabotage because a certain quantity of hydrochloric acid was found in the fuel.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CCP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4226
YOM:
1942
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight and approach, the crew landed at Santos Dumont Airport. After touchdown on a wet runway, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and plunged into the Guanabara Bay. While all 31 occupants were quickly evacuated and uninjured, the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who completed the landing procedure with an excessive speed and a tail wind component. The aircraft's speed at touchdown was too high and the runway surface was wet, which were considered as contributory factors.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL off Rio de Janeiro: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1954 at 2007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CDJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
19278
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport at the end of the afternoon, bound for São Paulo-Congonhas Airport. While descending to Congonhas, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions and decided to return to Santos Dumont. While approaching Rio, the left engine suffered severe vibrations and was shut down and its propeller was feathered. As the aircraft was too high on approach, the crew elected to make a go around when the airplane stalled and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. Six passengers were killed while 24 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft stalled and crashed during an attempt to go around when the power on the remaining engine was inadvertently reduced by the flying crew. It was reported that the crew was devolved by the loss of power on the left engine during the approach and that he was forced to shot it down. When the aircraft stalled, the distance from the water surface was insufficient to expect a recovery. A lack of reference to instruments on part of the flying crew and a lack of visibility were considered as contributory factors.
Subscribe to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont