Brazil

Operator:

Registration:

PP-AXJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo – Porto Alegre – Buenos Aires

MSN:

6177

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft left São Paulo-Congonhas Airport at 1145LT bound for Porto Alegre. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew obtained the permission to reduce his altitude to 3,000 feet. While flying in poor visibility due to heavy rain falls, the pilot-in-command did not realize that his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft hit trees. The left wing was sheared off and the aircraft crashed into the forest of Aparados da Serra located about 5 km southeast of Bom Jesus. Four passengers were rescued while 14 other occupants were killed, among them the Argentinian musicians Miguel Cao and Ivo Schwanter.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was caused by a faulty navigation on part of the flying crew who failed to take the appropriate actions to determine his exact en route position and flight course. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Natal: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

5081

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Natal - Natal

Location:

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Circumstances:

While performing a training mission out from Natal, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, went out of control and crashed onto houses located in Praia de Santa Rita, north of Natal. All three pilots and two people on the ground were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Guaíra

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Viaçao Aéreo Santos Dumont

Operator:

Registration:

PP-SDD

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Rio de Janeiro – Asunción

MSN:

20435

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the weather conditions worsened and the crew lost his orientation. As he was unable to continue to Asunción, the captain obtained the permission to divert to Guaíra for an emergency landing. On approach in poor weather conditions, the aircraft crashed in a field and came to rest upside down. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Poor weather conditions,
- Lack of radio aids in the area,
- Error on the part of the pilot who lost his orientation in marginal weather conditions and decided to land in hurried conditions,
- Poor flight preparation on part of the Operator,
- Failure of the Area Control Center (ACC) who validated an incorrect flight plan.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Palmeira de Goiás: 24 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1952 at 0940 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PP-ANH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Jataí – Rio Verde – Goiânia – Uberlândia – Rio de Janeiro

MSN:

20187

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

On the leg from Rio Verde to Goiânia, the crew informed ground that a fire erupted in the cabin and the captain decided to divert to Palmeira de Goiás for a safe landing. The crew tried several times to extinguish the fire but without success. Eventually, the pilot-in-command reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when, at a height of about 20 meters, the airplane exploded in the air and crashed few km from the airport of Palmeira de Goiás. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 24 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Investigators arrived on scene two days after the crash and confirmed that the wreckage was looted by locals. Due to the absence of evidence, it was very difficult to establish the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it is believed upon the testimony of several eyewitnesses that a fire erupted in the rear of the cabin and not in the fuel tanks located in the wings. It is possible that the fire was caused by inflammable materials stored in the bagage compartment. The fact that the aircraft was not equipped with fire detectors was considered as a contributory factor as it took time for the crew to analyse and understand the situation.

Crash of a Boeing SB-17G Flying Fortress off Recife: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1952 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

579

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Recife - Recife

MSN:

8488

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

While conducting a local training sortie from Recife-Guararapes Airport, the four engine aircraft collided with a FAB North American AT-6 Texan registered 1555 and carrying two pilots. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the sea about 5 km off shore. Two crew members on board the Boeing were rescued while eight other occupants in both aircraft were killed. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL off Maraú: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

2048

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Salvador – Rio de Janeiro

MSN:

9777

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The left engine caught fire en route. The crew elected to extinguish the fire without success. Eventually, the left engine detached with its nacelle and the undercarriage as well. In such conditions, the pilot-in-command reduced his altitude and completed an emergency landing onto the water about 200 meters off Maraú. A crew member and 12 passengers were killed while 20 other occupants were rescued.

Probable cause:

Fire on the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando off Manaus: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

PP-LDE

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Manaus – Rio de Janeiro

MSN:

446

YOM:

1945

Location:

Ponta Pelada AFB, Manaus

Amazonas

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff, during the initial climb, an engine failed. The pilot-in-command elected to return for an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Río Negro. The airplane sank and all six crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure shortly after rotation for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK in São Paulo: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1952 at 1020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PP-SPM

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

São Paulo – Bauru – Marília – Tupã – Londrina

MSN:

16894/34151

YOM:

1945

Location:

São Paulo

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, while in initial climb, the left engine suffered vibrations. The crew shot down the engine and feathered the propeller before making a turn to fly back to the airport. Shortly later, the right engine suffered technical issues as well and when the pilot lowered the gear, the aircraft lost height, hit obstacles and crashed near a soccer field. Both pilots and two passengers were killed while 18 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. Few hours later, one of the survivors died from his injuries.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb due to accessory drive failure. Malfunction or failure of the right engine due to poor maintenance on part of the operator who failed to follow the published procedures from the engine manufacturer. Wrong decision on part of the flying crew who decided to lower the undercarriage, causing the aircraft to stall.

Crash of a Grumman J4F-2 Widgeon into the Guanabara Bay

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1952 at 0825 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-44 Widgeon

Operator:

Registration:

2673

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site: