Crash of a Junkers W.34fi in Rio de Janeiro: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.34
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CAN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2593
YOM:
1929
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:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport for unknown reason. The aircraft christened 'Tiete' was destroyed while the pilot Walmor Bernardoni was killed and the radio operator Oceano de Sá was injured.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-10 LodeStar in Pedra Branca: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1942 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PBG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Sao Paulo
MSN:
2081
YOM:
1941
Location:
Pedra Branca
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
While approaching Sao Paulo from the north, the crew was informed by ATC that weather conditions at destination were poor. Few minutes later, while cruising at a too low altitude, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Pedra Branca. All 15 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-43 off Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1941 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-43
Operator:
Registration:
NC16928
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
4317
YOM:
1928
Location:
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight in the Guanabara Bay, consisting of approaches and landings. On approach, the seaplane hit the water surface in a nose down attitude, overturned and sank. All four crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew and poor judgement on part of the pilot-in-command upon landing. The glassy water surface was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Manguinhos

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AEU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
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:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of about 60 metres, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It stalled and crashed in the district of Manguinhos, in Rio de Janeiro. The airplane was destroyed and both occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-43 off Salvador

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1940 at 0935 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-43
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PAU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Salvador - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
4308
YOM:
1936
Location:
Salvador
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Salvador, the seaplane went out of control and crashed inverted into the Bay of Salvador. All 17 occupants were rescued, among them three passengers were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly off Rio de Janeiro: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1940 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly
Operator:
Registration:
LV-KAB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
7563
YOM:
1937
Location:
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was approaching Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport when it collided at a height of 1,500 feet with a Junkers JU.52 of VASP. Registered PP-SPF, the three engine aircraft was en route to São Paulo with 18 people on board. Following the collision, both aircraft entered a dive and crashed into the Botafogo Bay, killing all 19 occupants.
Probable cause:
Both crews failed to see and avoid each other due to the poor visibility caused by the presence of clouds at low altitude.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52 in Rio de Janeiro: 18 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1940 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SPF
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
5689
YOM:
1937
Location:
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
Shortly after its departure from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while climbing in clouds to an altitude of some 1,500 feet, the three engine aircraft named 'Cidade de Santos' collided with a De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly registered LV-KAB and operated by the Shell-Mex Company of Argentina. Its pilot was initiated an approach to the same airport when the collision occurred. Following the collision, both aircraft entered a dive and crashed into the Botafogo Bay, killing all 19 occupants.
Probable cause:
Both crews failed to see and avoid each other due to the poor visibility caused by the presence of clouds at low altitude.

Crash of a Potez 25T in Belo Horizonte

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Potez 25
Operator:
Registration:
A-117
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Belo Horizonte
MSN:
1822
Location:
Belo Horizonte-Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade
Minas Gerais
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Belo Horizonte-Pampulha Airport, the engine caught fire. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine fire on approach.

Fire of a Sikorsky S-43 off Vitória

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1937 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-43
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PAR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Vitória – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
4307
YOM:
1937
Location:
Vitória
Espírito Santo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The float plane departed Vitória at 1400LT on a regular service to Rio de Janeiro with 13 passengers and four crew members on board. En route, both engines caught fire and the captain J. H. Hart decided to return to Vitória then completed a safe landing. All 17 occupants were able to disembark before the aircraft would be destroyed by fire and sank.
Probable cause:
Double engine fire in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60T Moth in Rio de Janeiro: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
I1H-32
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
3026
YOM:
1931
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:
The crew was completing aerobatics over the Copacabana Beach when control was lost. The airplane crashed on a street in a near district. Both pilots were killed while there were no victims on the ground.
Crew:
1st Lt Carlos Barcellos de Lavrador, pilot,
2nd Lt Renato César Cavalcanti de Lemos, mechanic.
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