Region
South America

Crash of a Lockheed L-1649A Starliner in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1649 Starliner
Operator:
Registration:
LV-GLH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro – Natal – Dakar – Lisbon – Geneva – London
MSN:
1006
YOM:
1957
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Santos Dumont Airport in Rio, the four engine aircraft was too low and struck a seawall located short of runway threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane crash landed and came to rest after a course of one km. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command who continued the descent at an unsafe altitude (below the glide) and misjudged the distance with the ground.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Manaus: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1961 at 0525 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
5077
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Manaus
Amazonas
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after a night takeoff from Manaus Airport, killing all six crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Natal: 23 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
2055
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Natal – Belém
MSN:
4473
YOM:
1942
Location:
Natal
Rio Grande do Norte
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
On approach to Natal, the airplane went out of control and crashed 1,5 km short of runway. Both pilots and 21 passengers were killed. Five other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Ponta Grossa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-YQS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
4914
YOM:
1942
Location:
Ponta Grossa
Paraná
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route, the crew was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions at destination and decided to divert to Ponta Grossa. While descending in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck a mountain located few km from Ponta Grossa. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew who decided to continue to Ponta Grossa in poor weather conditions while he could divert to Florianópolis or São Paulo where the weather conditions were better (VFR).

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Brasilia

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1961 at 2139 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
2066
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brasília - Brasília
MSN:
13636
YOM:
1944
Location:
Brasília
Distrito Federal
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Brasilia Airport. By night, the airplane crashed near the airfield, injuring all five crew members.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation in São Paulo

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1961 at 1337 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
EC-AIP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madrid – Tenerife – Sal – Natal – São Paulo – Montevideo – Buenos Aires – Santiago
MSN:
4552
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
IB991
Location:
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway 16 threshold. All 46 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined the approach was completed in heavy winds and turbulences and that the aircraft was caught by downdrafts during the last segment. However, it is reported the crew failed to adapt the approach speed to the wind conditions, causing the aircraft to lose height.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Belém: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PT-BJC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
19214
YOM:
1943
Location:
Belém
Pará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Belém, killing both pilots. The airplane was owned by C. E. Campos.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049 Constellation in Belo Horizonte

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1961 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PDC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2056
YOM:
1946
Location:
Belo Horizonte-Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade
Minas Gerais
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
53
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the four engine aircraft christened 'Domingos Dias Prado' landed too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and eventually crashed into a ravine. All 59 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who completed the approach too high above the glide and at an excessive speed, causing the aircraft to land too far down the runway. It is also reported that the crew failed to make a go around while the approach procedure was missed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46C Commando in São Paulo

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VCT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
260
YOM:
1945
Location:
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at São Paulo-Congonhas, the airplane encountered difficulties to decelerate properly. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen yards farther. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to follow the published procedure for the landing maneuver and failed to take advantage of all braking systems after landing. A lack of coordination was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando near Cachimbo: 15 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AKF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cuiabá – Manaus
MSN:
295
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cachimbo
Pará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
En route, the right engine failed and the crew was forced to jettison some of the cargo to maintain a safe altitude. Eventually, the aircraft stalled and crashed on a hilly and wooded terrain located in the region of Cachimbo. The wreckage was found few hours later in the jungle and all 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight failure of the right engine for unknown reason.
Subscribe to Brazil