Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Passo Fundo: 15 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1963
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VBV
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Porto Alegre – Passo Fundo
MSN:
15444/26889
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
RG280
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
On approach to Passo Fundo Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility. On final, the aircraft was too low, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located few km short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 13 passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Error of judgement on the part of the pilot in attempting to fly visually in unfavorable weather conditions during twilight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Brasilía

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-NBP
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
226
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in São Paulo

Date & Time: May 5, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27237
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While parked at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the DC-4's wing tip was struck by a VARIG DC-6 registered PP-YSI. There were no injuries but the DC-4 was declared as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Convair CV-340-59 in São Paulo: 37 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1963 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CDW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
159
YOM:
1954
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Captain / Total flying hours:
11997
Captain / Total hours on type:
8010.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2536
Copilot / Total hours on type:
800
Aircraft flight hours:
17960
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on scheduled domestic flight from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro with 5 crew and 45 passengers aboard. Following an eight-minute delay due to heavy traffic, the flight was cleared to take off from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport. One minute after takeoff the pilot-in-command reported to the tower that the aircraft's n°2 engine was on fire, and he would return to the airport. A left turn was begun, and it is presumed that the pilot feathered n°2 propeller. He began the downwind leg to runway 16 and asked the tower operators whether anything abnormal could be seen regarding the aircraft's n°2 engine. The tower operators, from whom n°2 engine was hidden by the fuselage, reported that they could not see anything abnormal. Presumably the pilot unfeathered the propeller which started windmilling. Approximately abeam the tower, the aircraft began to lose altitude and when it started the final turn its altitude was very low. The aircraft was probably nosed up and stalled with a bank of 45°; it first struck a house with its nose and left wing, then hit the ground (elevation 800 meters) and made a 260° turn on its left wing. The accident occurred at night in a well illuminated, densely populated area. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and 4 crew members and 33 passengers were killed, 13 other occupants being injured.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the alarm bell, which indicated overheating, rang immediately after takeoff. The pilot-in-command, believing n°2 engine was on fire, presumably feathered n°2 propeller. As the flight entered the downwind leg, it was unfeathered, but the shut-off valve was not re-opened, and the propeller began windmilling. Although the engine n°1 was still operating at takeoff power, the altitude could not be maintained. When entering the last turn to base leg, the aircraft was very low, and the pilot presumably tried to lift the nose to avoid striking buildings near the airport. This caused the aircraft to stall. At this time, one of the crew probably used the flaps. Shortly thereafter the aircraft banked 45°, struck a house and crashed to the ground. It is highly probable that if the pilot had refeathered n°2 engine when he started losing altitude, he could have maintained altitude and landed safely. In conclusion, the probable primary cause of the accident was a pilot error and improper procedure on unfeathering n°2 engine. The probable secondary cause of the accident is a probable material failure of one or both engines overheating.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 247D in Belém

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-APO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1720
YOM:
1933
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Belém-Val-de-Cans Airport, one of the engine caught fire. The crew attempted an emergency landing in a swampy area past the runway end. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while both crew members were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Engine fire after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7C in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PDM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
45124
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport. During the takeoff roll, just after V1 speed, the nose gear retracted. The aircraft sank on its belly, lost its both engines number two and three and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All seven crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation of lack of crew coordination led the crew to retract the undercarriage prematurely while the aircraft had not yet taken off.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson in Belo Horizonte: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1963 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-BAY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Belo Horizonte - Caratinga
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Belo Horizonte-Pampulha Airport on a photogrammetry flight to Caratinga, Minas Gerais. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane lost height, crashed on a bulldozer parked near the runway end and burst into flames. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jacy Machado, pilot,
Stenio Benedito dos Santos, navigator.
Passengers.
Rogério Sixel de Paula, engineer,
Ronald Sutter Silveira, engineer.

Crash of a Convair CV-340-59 in Paranaíba

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CDY
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
166
YOM:
1954
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The landing procedure was completed on a waterlogged runway. After touchdown, the airplane deviated from the centerline to the right and veered off runway. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane came to rest. All nine occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-0 in São Paulo: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1963 at 1612 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CEV
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
6
YOM:
1948
Flight number:
SC403
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
Control was lost while attempting a go around manoeuvre due top the failure of the left engine. It was reported that the crew failed to react properly to an emergency situation due, among others, to a lack of training.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-2 in Brasília: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1962 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VCQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Belo Horizonte – Brasília
MSN:
103
YOM:
1948
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7165
Captain / Total hours on type:
2392.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3395
Copilot / Total hours on type:
178
Aircraft flight hours:
21728
Circumstances:
At 0054LT, the crew reported on approach to Brasília Airport at an altitude of 1,800 meters. He was instructed to report when inbound for runway 28 and was given the latest weather conditions. Initial approach was begun at 0056. At 0059 the flight reported it as on final approach. The tower gave it thelatest wind conditions, 330°, velocity 8-10 kt, and the aircraft was cleared to land. The message was acknowledged. Nothing further was heard from the flight. The tower controller saw a flash of light in the direction from which the aircraft was expected, however, he did not think anything abnormal had occurred. After a few unsuccessful calls, search and rescue services were alerted. The aircraft had struck trees and the ground 8,400 meters from the runway and continued over uneven ground for 300 meters. As the aircraft fell on its side, only the side exit facing upward would be used for evacuation. Because of the failure of normal lights and the fact that no flashlights were available, it was difficult to find the emergency exit. The captain was killed while the copilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The aircraft descended below the prescribed altitude for undetermined reasons.
Final Report: