Country
Brazil
code

Rio de Janeiro

Crash of a Boeing 707-330C near Rio de Janeiro: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1979 at 1832 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
D-ABUY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Dakar – Frankfurt
MSN:
20395/848
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
LH527
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Galeão
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
7969
Captain / Total hours on type:
996.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3537
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2631
Circumstances:
Flight 527 was cleared for a No.16 departure by ground control and was instructed to make a right turn after takeoff, heading the Caxias VOR, climbing to and maintaining 2000 feet. The aircraft took off from runway 27 at 21:27. Approach control then asked the crew to increase their speed. The speed increased progressively to 304 knots, exceeding the 250 knots maximum speed inside the terminal control area below 10000 feet. While Flight 527 was flying towards mountainous terrain and increasing its speed (in the north sector of the radar scope), the controller was busy vectoring an excessive amount of traffic in the south sector. The assistant departure controller failed to monitor the traffic. When the controller turned his attention to LH527 again, he was surprised by the position of the aircraft and instructed 'LH, turn right heading 140, just now, over'. The controller repeated his instructions and instructed the crew to increase their rate of climb. At that time the GPWS sounded in the cockpit. The aircraft struck trees on the slope of a mountain in a nose-up, left wing down attitude and continued 800 m while breaking up.
Probable cause:
It is clear that there was a breakdown in teamwork of the personnel on duty in Rio approach control at that time. The departure controller, through incomplete instructions, caused LH527 to fly for a period of time on a heading and at an altitude that led the aircraft to collision. The assistant controller, the co-ordinator and the supervisor on duty did not support the departure controller as they should have done. A contributing factor was that the crew accepted the incomplete ATC instructions (no clearance limit or alternate procedure) and flew during 1 min 41s without bilateral communications and in potential danger inherent in these incomplete instructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 500 Citation I in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1976 at 2255 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 500 Citation
Operator:
Taxi Aéreo Jaraguá
Registration:
PT-KIU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Araçatuba – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
500-0172
YOM:
1974
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest into the Guanabara Bay about 100 metres past the runway end. All eight occupants were quickly rescued and the airplane sank 30 minutes later.

Crash of a Learjet 25B off Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Registration:
PT-DVL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
25-077
YOM:
1971
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Guanabara Bay. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S off Rio de Janeiro: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1974 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Río Táxi Aéreo
Registration:
PT-DOZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Brasilia
MSN:
A-450
YOM:
1948
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After a night takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames into the Guanabara Bay few dozen yards offshore. Both crew members were killed. It was reported the aircraft caught fire shortly after rotation for unknown reason.

Crash of a De Havilland CC-115 Buffalo at Compo dos Afonsos AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1974
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
2356
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Campo dos Afonsos - Campo dos Afonsos
MSN:
26
YOM:
1968
Location:
Campo dos Afonsos AFB
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff at Campo dos Afonsos AFB, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar at Pedro dos Afonsos AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
2301
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10960
YOM:
1952
Location:
Campo dos Afonsos AFB
Rio de Janeiro
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 while taking off from Campo dos Afonsos Airbase. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-211 in Rio de Janeiro: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1973 at 0850 LT
Type of aircraft:
NAMC YS-11
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SMJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Belo Horizonte
MSN:
2068
YOM:
1968
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
60
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, about 8 knots below V1 speed, the captain noticed a loss of power on both engines while the turbine temperature was at its maximum. In such situation, the captain decided to abort the takeoff procedure and applied brakes. It appears the aircraft failed to decelerate properly so the crew activated the emergency brakes that were effectives on the right main gear only. As the end of the runway was approaching, the captain retracted the undercarriage so the airplane sank on its belly and slid before coming to rest into the Guanabara Bay. The aircraft sank about 10 minutes later and was lost. Eight passengers were killed while 57 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.

Crash of a Boeing 707-327C off Rio de Janeiro: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VLJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
19106
YOM:
1966
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Galeão
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to runway 14 at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport, at an altitude of 200 feet, the airplane nosed down and crashed into the sea. Two crew members were rescued while two others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
On short final, with speed brake lever at 45° and inboard spoilers deactivated, the crew noted that the spoiler switch cover was open. It is believed that the copilot mistakenly closed the spoiler switch cover and thus activated the inboard spoiler, causing the aircraft to pitch down and to crash into the sea.

Crash of a Learjet 24 in Rio de Janeiro: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 24
Operator:
Registration:
PT-CXK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
24-122
YOM:
1966
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Galeão
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, the captain decided to abandon the landing and initiated a go-around manoeuvre after he has been informed about the fact that the runway was wet. He followed a holding circuit for about 30 minutes then started an approach to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport when the airplane struck power cables and crashed few km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, the crew descended too low while approaching Galeão Airport.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-211 near Petrópolis: 25 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1972 at 2126 LT
Type of aircraft:
NAMC YS-11
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SMI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
2059
YOM:
1968
Location:
Petropólis
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the crew started the descent to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport from the north. While flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet by night and in marginal weather conditions, the crew informed ATC he just passed over AF NDB. Two minutes later, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Petrópolis, about 50 km north of Santos Dumont Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that while descending in IMC conditions, the crew mistakenly tuned the ADF instrument to a wrong NDB, causing the airplane to follow a wrong approach path and to descend at an inappropriate altitude. The lack of visibility due to the night and clouds was considered as a contributing factor.
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