Country
Brazil
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Bahia

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Vitoria da Conquista: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1955 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-YPZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
11699
YOM:
1943
Location:
Vitória da Conquista
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On approach to Vitória da Conquista Airport, the crew lowered the gear. As it failed to lock, the captain decided to make a go-around, increased power on both engines and completed a low pass over the runway before joining the circuit. As he completed a turn to the left, the aircraft hit a telephone pole, stalled and crashed in flames near the airport. Four passengers and a crew member were killed while 16 other people were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was caused by the failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain a correct attitude whilst the inspection was being made to ascertain the position of the landing gear. It was also reported that the following factors contributed to the accident:
- Error of judgement on the part of the pilot in opening the throttles for a go-around with the gear extended,
- Failure of the landing gear locking mechanism.

Crash of a Lockheed C-28 Hudson in Ilhéus: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
2902
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
414-7178
YOM:
1943
Location:
Ilhéus
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While conduction a liaison flight from Fortaleza, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Ilhéus, killing all eight occupants.

Crash of a Lockheed C-28 Hudson in Salvador: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1954 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
2901
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salvador – Fortaleza
MSN:
414-7176
YOM:
1943
Location:
Salvador
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Salvador Airport, while climbing, an engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in a field past the runway end. All 20 occupants were killed, among them five children.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B in Itapebi

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1953
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.114 Heron
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Salvador
Registration:
PP-SLG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14004
YOM:
1952
Location:
Itapebi
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command noted a loss of power on engine number two and decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the four engine aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen yards further. All 14 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of power on engine number two could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the decision of the captain to abandon the takeoff was against the published procedures as the loss of power occurred after the airplane reached VR (rotation speed) and thus, should continue the takeoff maneuver with three engines.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DK in Salvador

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AJA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
11844
YOM:
1943
Location:
Salvador
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Salvador Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The pilot-in-command elected to return for an emergency landing when during the last turn, the aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards from the runway threshold. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the engine failure was not determined with certainty. However, the reaction of the crew was inappropriate as he failed to feather the propeller on the right engine, which increased drag and contributed to the stall of the airplane.

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

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
2048
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Salvador – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
9777
YOM:
1943
Location:
Maraú
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
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 Beechcraft D18S near Caravelas: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Registration:
2825
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Caravelas – Fortaleza
MSN:
A-330
Location:
Caravelas
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Caravelas Airfield in the morning, taking part to a SAR operation after another airplane disappeared. En route, the contact was lost and as the aircraft failed to arrive in Fortaleza, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the three crew members was found. More than three years later, in October 1954, the wreckage was found in an isolated area located about 20 minutes of flight northwest of Caravelas.
Crew:
Cpt Antonio Filizola, pilot,
Cpt Decio Leopoldo de Sousa,
Sgt Wilton de Araujo Camara.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A in Palame: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
Aero Geral
Registration:
PP-AGC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Recife – Salvador
MSN:
CV-480
YOM:
1944
Location:
Palame
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Palame, Bahia, while completing a flight from Recife to Salvador de Bahia. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Vitória da Conquista

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
PP-IBC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4360
YOM:
1942
Location:
Vitória da Conquista
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the left engine suffered vibrations and the captain decided to abandon the takeoff. In a certain confusion, the copilot inadvertently retracted the undercarriage, causing the aircraft to sink on its belly. It skidded for several yards before coming to rest. While the airplane was damaged beyond repair, there were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Vibrations on the left engine during takeoff caused by the failure of a propeller hub. Poor crew coordination and communication, making the copilot to retract the undercarriage while the aircraft was still rolling for takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Ilhéus: 13 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AVZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vitória da Conquista – Salvador
MSN:
9156
YOM:
1943
Location:
Ilhéus
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
En route from Vitória da Conquista to Salvador, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to reduce his altitude to avoid clouds when the aircraft went through a cumulonimbus area. Severe turbulences were encountered and the aircraft went out of control when both wings broke off and separated. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in the region of Ilhéus. Two passengers were seriously injured while 13 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the aircraft encountered severe turbulences while cruising in a cumulonimbus area, which caused the rupture of both wings that were overstressed (above wing certification). The decision of the crew to start a rapid descent and to fly into a cumulonimbus area was imprudent.
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