Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VI-R in São Luís: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1973 at 0720 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PDX
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Belém - São Luís
MSN:
126
YOM:
1962
Flight number:
SC109
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
On final approach to São Luís-Marechal Cunha Machado Airport, while at an altitude of 90 meters, the pilot-in-command abandoned the approach and decided to make a go-around. While climbing, the airplane adopted a high nose-up attitude then stalled, banked to the right and crashed in flames 760 meters to the right of the approach path. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed. It was reported that the right engine did not develop any power at impact.

Crash of a Vickers 827 Viscount in Salvador

Date & Time: May 15, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SRD
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
398
YOM:
1958
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Salvador-Dois de Julho Airport was completed in heavy rain falls. After touchdown on a wet runway, the airplane skidded then veered off runway to the left. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane came to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Learjet 24 in Rio de Janeiro: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-CXK
Survivors:
No
MSN:
24-122
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, the captain decided to abandon the landing and initiated a go-around manoeuvre after he has been informed about the fact that the runway was wet. He followed a holding circuit for about 30 minutes then started an approach to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport when the airplane struck power cables and crashed few km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, the crew descended too low while approaching Galeão Airport.

Crash of a De Havilland C-115 Buffalo at Ponta Pelada AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2372
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ponta Pelada - Ponta Pelada
MSN:
42
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Ponta Pelada AFB when the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances while initiating an approach. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Rondonópolis

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1973
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SQA
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4742
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Rondonópolis Airport in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-202 in São Paulo

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CTG
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2063
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Maybe following a wrong approach configuration, the airplane landed long and too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, struck several obstacles and came to rest into a ravine bordering a marsh. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in São Paulo

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1972 at 0840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-ANS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santos – São Paulo
MSN:
1513
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to São Paulo-Congonhas in poor visibility, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed short of runway threshold. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049 Constellation near Cruzeiro do Sul: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1972
Registration:
PP-PDG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cruzeiro do Sul - Rio Branco
MSN:
2037
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Because of a lack of fuel at Cruzeiro do Sul Airport, the airplane was grounded for four days. Eventually, two fuel trucks were dispatched to the airport and the aircraft could be refueled directly from the trucks. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the engine n°3 failed, followed 10 minutes later by a second engine. Some of the cargo was jettisoned but the aircraft was still losing altitude. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing on the Cruzeiro do Sul - Tarauacá highway when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. Nine occupants were killed, including all three crew members, and nine other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. It was later confirmed that another aircraft that had been refueled just after PP-PDG had to reject its takeoff because of an engine failure.
Probable cause:
Refueling directly from the trucks without allowing sufficient time for the fuel to settle.

Crash of a Consolidated CA-10A-1 Catalina near Humaitá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1972 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
6514
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Humaitá - Manaus
MSN:
1917
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Humaitá to Manaus, both engines failed simultaneously. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a wooded area (jungle) located about 80 km northeast of Humaitá. A passenger and a crew member were killed while eight other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure apparently caused by a faulty fuel supply system.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-211 near Petrópolis: 25 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1972 at 2126 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SMI
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
2059
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the crew started the descent to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport from the north. While flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet by night and in marginal weather conditions, the crew informed ATC he just passed over AF NDB. Two minutes later, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Petrópolis, about 50 km north of Santos Dumont Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that while descending in IMC conditions, the crew mistakenly tuned the ADF instrument to a wrong NDB, causing the airplane to follow a wrong approach path and to descend at an inappropriate altitude. The lack of visibility due to the night and clouds was considered as a contributing factor.