Rio de Janeiro

On approach to El Plumerillo Airport at Mendoza, one of the propeller blade on the left engine separated, struck the fuselage and penetrated into the cabin. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and completed an emergency landing in a prairie located few km from the airfield. While all 20 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The Viscount took off from Vitoria at 18:45 GMT and climbed to 1800 m. At 19:33 the crew reported over Rio Bonito at 1800 m in instrument meteorological conditions. Actually, the flight was over Nova Friburgo, 43 km from Rio Bonito. The aircraft collided with the west slope of the Pico da Caledônia (2255 m) at an elevation of about 1950 m (6400 ft). VASP Flight 141 was a scheduled service from Recife, Brazil to São Paulo, Brazil with intermediate stops at Vitória and Rio de Janeiro. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 39 occupants have been killed.

While descending to São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and low visibility. As a result, ATC instructed the crew to make a go around and to divert to another airport. The pilot-in-command started the go around manoeuvre when control was lost. The airplane stalled and crashed onto several houses located in the district of Jabaquara, less than one km short of runway 35. Three houses were destroyed and the airplane as well. A crew member, five passengers and seven people on the ground were killed while 39 other occupants were injured.

The aircraft was flying the Rio de Janeiro - Vitória segment of a scheduled international flight. A 2220 GMT it reported it was over Guararapi at 2,700 m and in IMC. The aircraft was authorized to descend to 2,100 m and told to maintain that altitude until reaching the Vitória NDB. At 2228 it reported it was three minutes out at 2,100 m and in VMC. The flight continued its descent and was given landing instructions for runway 23. The controller in the tower watched the aircraft descending, and at the end of the downwind leg he saw the landing lights being adjusted. When the aircraft reported on final, the landing instructions were repeated. Shortly thereafter power was applied in an effort to climb the aircraft, but it collided with a eucalyptus tree at a height of 40 m, 1,860 m from the threshold of runway 23. At that stage of the approach the aircraft should been at a minimum altitude of 190 m (150 m above the ground). Fire broke following impact and destroyed the airplane. Two passengers were seriously injured while all 23 other occupants were killed.

Following an uneventful flight from Rio de Janeiro, the pilot-in-command completed the approach at Brasília Airport. Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed hard and struck violently the runway surface. On impact, the undercarriage were damaged and the airplane went out of control and veered off runway to the left. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane came to rest in flames. All 71 occupants were quickly evacuated and the aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

On approach to Natal, the airplane went out of control and crashed 1,5 km short of runway. Both pilots and 21 passengers were killed. Five other occupants were injured.

The R4D-6 left Buenos Aires at 0825LT on a flight to Rio de Janeiro, carrying a delegation of musicians who would take part to a ceremony dedicated to the official visit in Rio de Janeiro of the US President Eisenhower. At 12:56 the crew reported over the BAGRE fix, entering the Rio Approach Control zone. The plane then descended to 1500 m reaching the Ilha Rasa (IH) NDB at 13:05. The crew were then instructed to arrive over the RJ NDB at 1800 m altitude and continue to the KX NDB descending to 1500 m. At the KX NDB the plane could enter the approach path for Galeao Airport. At 13:07 the flight reported passing over RJ at 1800 m, but the plane was in fact still approaching the NDB! False radio compass indications in the area are not uncommon; they are influenced by a steel cable car in the area. REAL DC-3 PP-AXD had left Campos at 12:10 for a flight to Rio de Janeiro. The flight reported at the Porto das Caixas fix at 12:58. at 1650 m. He was told to head for the RJ NDB at 1800 m and was later cleared for 1500 m to carry out the Victor Procedure for an approach to Santos Dumont Airport. The DC-3 overflew the RJ NDB at 13:06 at 1700 m. While carrying out the standard 180° turn to the left, the DC-3 was hit on its right side in an upward direction by the US Navy DC-6. The collision occurred at about 1600 m; the DC-3 crashed into the bay just southeast of Sugar Loaf Mountain; the DC-6 crashed into the bay just north of the mountain.

The R4D-6 left Buenos Aires at 0825LT on a flight to Rio de Janeiro, carrying a delegation of musicians who would take part to a ceremony dedicated to the official visit in Rio de Janeiro of the US President Eisenhower. At 12:56 the crew reported over the BAGRE fix, entering the Rio Approach Control zone. The plane then descended to 1500 m reaching the Ilha Rasa (IH) NDB at 13:05. The crew were then instructed to arrive over the RJ NDB at 1800 m altitude and continue to the KX NDB descending to 1500 m. At the KX NDB the plane could enter the approach path for Galeao Airport. At 13:07 the flight reported passing over RJ at 1800 m, but the plane was in fact still approaching the NDB! False radio compass indications in the area are not uncommon; they are influenced by a steel cable car in the area. REAL DC-3 PP-AXD had left Campos at 12:10 for a flight to Rio de Janeiro. The flight reported at the Porto das Caixas fix at 12:58. at 1650 m. He was told to head for the RJ NDB at 1800 m and was later cleared for 1500 m to carry out the Victor Procedure for an approach to Santos Dumont Airport. The DC-3 overflew the RJ NDB at 13:06 at 1700 m. While carrying out the standard 180° turn to the left, the DC-3 was hit on its right side in an upward direction by the US Navy DC-6. The collision occurred at about 1600 m; the DC-3 crashed into the bay just southeast of Sugar Loaf Mountain; the DC-6 crashed into the bay just north of the mountain.

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.

En route from Rio de Janeiro to Salvador, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances near Prado, south Bahia. The aircraft was destroyed and all 17 occupants were killed, among them Major-Brigadier Dionisio Cerqueira de Taunay who was travelling with his wife and both children on behalf of the Ministry of Defense.