Brazil

The Panair Constellation departed Belém at 02:31 GMT for a 3-hour flight to Manaus-Ponta Pelada Airport. The plane followed the Amber 1 airway and contacted Manaus at 05:04, reporting six minutes out. At 05:19 the flight crew asked Manaus whether the plane's engines could be heard. Manaus replied negative and asked the reason for the question. Nothing more was heard from the flight, which appeared to have crashed 45 km from Manaus. The Constellation named 'Estevao Ribeiro Baiao Parente' was completely destroyed and all 50 occupants were killed.

The Scandia aircraft was flying a scheduled domestic service from Congonhas Airport (São Paulo) to Santos Dumont (Rio de Janeiro). It left Congonhas at 1144 GMT on an instrument flight plan and was flying Airway AB-6 at the approved cruising altitude of 2,400 m. Five crew and 18 passengers were aboard. The flight advised of its progress en route and at 1203 hours was abeam São José dos Campos, estimating Ubatuba at 1214 hours. When it did not report Ubatuba as expected, an alert message was sent at 1242 hours. The Cessna had taken off from Santos Dumont at 1111 GMT en route to Campo de Marte in São Paulo. It was flying the same airway in the opposite direction on a VFR flight plan and carried 4 persons. Following its last contact with Santos Dumont it did not report its position. The alert phase was declared at 1251 hours, thirty minutes after its estimated time of arrival at Campo de Marte. It was learned later by the Inquiry that the sound of the two aircraft collided was heard, and eye witnesses saw them fall, at approximately 1209 hours.

En route to Brasília, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and elected to make an emergency landing when control was lost. The airplane crashed in a field in Nova Lima and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maj Omar Lamarao, pilot,
Lt Virgillo Pinto de Almeida, copilot.
Passenger:
Mr. Geraldo Meneses Córtes, Federal Deputy.

After takeoff from Campo de Marte AFB, while on a training flight to Belém, control was lost and the twin engine airplane crashed in flames. All three crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

The aircraft was on a scheduled international flight from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro (Galeao Airport) and Lisbon. It arrived at Galeao Airport following an uneventful flight. Another crew took over for the last segment of the flight. The takeoff run began at 2303 hours GMT from runway 14. The aircraft's acceleration appeared to be normal. The pilot-in-command declared that, at a speed between 100 and 135 kt (V1), he noted that the control column was too far back and pushed it forward. At this point the co-pilot released the controls, which is normally done when the aircraft reaches V1. It is believed that in fact an attempt to rotate the aircraft was made around 132 kt. The aircraft continued to accelerate normally. The co-pilot announced 148 kt, the rotation speed (VR), and the pilot pulled back on the control column. However, the aircraft did not respond, so he pushed it forward again. No indication of this rotation attempt was revealed by the flight recorder reading. He and the co-pilot then pulled back on the control column, however, the nose of the aircraft did not rotate since the pilot had already reduced power 14 seconds after reaching VR. Also, the tape reading indicated that the brakes were used for 5 seconds prior to any power reduction. The first marks of braking were found approximately 2300 m from the threshold. The pilot realized that the aircraft could not be stopped on the remaining portion of the runway so he turned the aircraft off the runway to the right and fully reduced power. The brakes were applied but not reverse thrust. Heavy and steady braking marks started 2600 m from the threshold. Of his own accord, the co-pilot applied full power for reversion and tried to operate the spoilers but could not do so because of the bumps The right wing lowered, dragging engines No. 3 and 4. The left wheels of the landing gear sank into the sand, and engines No. 1 and 2 also began to drag. All four engines lost their ejectors and reversion cones, causing the aircraft to accelerate. It continued moving at a high speed, hit the airport wall, crossed the adjoining highway, lost engines No. 1 and 2 and the left landing gear and finally came to rest in the sea. 50 m from shore. It drifted 100 m while floating and then sank to a depth of 8 m. There were no lights on board the aircraft when it came to a stop as the automatic emergency lighting system did not function. One cabin attendant used one of the two flashlights available. The darkness increased the panic and confusion. The passengers could not use the main door as an exit because it would open into the sea. They did not know where the emergency exits were. However, the exits were then opened and most of the passengers left the aircraft on the starboard side. The fact that the lour exits were all in the central part of the fuselage hampered the evacuation as the number of passengers (94) was considerable. The crew left the aircraft via the cockpit windows. No instructions had been given on emergency procedures and therefore the passengers and most of the crew did not take their life jackets with them when leaving the aircraft. Although the aircraft was equipped with six life rafts no crew member tried to use them. The aircraft drifted 330 feet downstream and submerged in 25 minutes. A crew member and 14 passengers were killed, 46 occupants were wounded and 44 were uninjured.

While on a training flight out from Recife-Guararapes Airport, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Viçosa. All nine crew members were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Recife-Guararapes Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed onto a building. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

After touchdown on runway 24, the aircraft deviated from the centerline to the left. The captain decided to takeoff and instructed the copilot to raise the landing immediately after rotation. In a certain confusion, the copilot raised the landing gear while the aircraft was still rolling on the runway. It sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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.

The crew encountered technical problems while approaching Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport and was unable to lower the nose gear. The landing procedure was completed with the nose gear retracted and the airplane slid on its nose for dozen yards before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.