Crash of a Vickers 701C Viscount in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SRQ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
65
YOM:
1955
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport. On final approach, the instructor voluntarily shut down the engine number four to simulate a failure. Simultaneously, the pilot under training lost control of the airplane that stalled and struck the runway surface. After impact, the airplane veered off runway and came to rest. While all four crew members were evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Error of judgement on part of the instructor who was overconfident. Following incorrect manoeuvres on part of the pilot under training, incorrect training instructions and a wrong approach configuration, control was lost.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Santa Isabel do Morro

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1965
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SPU
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20729
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Vickers 701C Viscount near Nova Friburgo: 39 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1964 at 1634 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SRR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Recife – Vitória – Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
66
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
VP141
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Captain / Total flying hours:
6787
Captain / Total hours on type:
428.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5945
Copilot / Total hours on type:
433
Aircraft flight hours:
17165
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
Collision with an obstacle located 35 km to the right of the intended track, for reasons unknown.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-41-CU Commando in Rio Capim: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-NMF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Carolina – Belém
MSN:
26971
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Carolina to Belém-Va-de-Cans Airport, the left engine failed, caught fire then exploded. The crew informed ATC about his situation when few minutes later, the right engine lost power. The crew was forced to jettison few of the cargo and the captain elected to ditch the aircraft into the Rio Capim, some 230 km south of Belém. The aircraft floated about 15 minutes then sank and was lost. Three crew members were rescued while the fourth drowned.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine following the detachment of a propeller blade in flight.

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45T Expeditor at Parnamirim AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1964 at 0030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2881
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Belém – Parnamirim
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Parnamirim AFB by night, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances few km short of runway. A passenger was killed while four other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-28-DK in Brasília

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1964
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SPK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brasília - Brasília
MSN:
15958/32706
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Brasília Airport. On final approach, the instructor simulated an emergency landing with the right engine at reduced power. The airplane stalled and struck the ground short of runway threshold and bounced. As the left engine failed to respond properly, the airplane stalled and crashed. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot under training to use the propeller controls properly and incorrect supervision on part of the instructor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Embu: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1964 at 1500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SPZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
São Paulo - São Paulo
MSN:
4649
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a local training in the São Paulo area. Shortly after takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while climbing, the airplane apparently exploded and crashed near a highway located few km south of Embu. All three crew members were killed. The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A off Portel

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1964
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PCZ
Schedule:
Belém – Portel
MSN:
CV-282
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Portel, the crew encountered strong cross winds. The airplane struck the water surface and on impact, the windshield was sheared off. Water came into the cockpit and the cabin and the airplane partially sank. All occupants were evacuated safely.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Belém

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10506
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, at V2 speed, the crew decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the four engine aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest into trees. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation on behalf of the crew who failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and started the takeoff procedure with the controls locked. The crew realized that the controls were still locked once the V2 speed was reached and immediately initiated an emergency braking procedure.