Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Rio de Janeiro: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Belém
MSN:
33304
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, just prior to rotation, the airplane struck a hole in the runway surface, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY5-A Catalina in Belém: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
6517
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1920
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed while performing a training mission, killing one of the four crew members on board.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando off Aracruz: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
ZP-CBM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Asunción – Rio de Janeiro – Belém – Miami
MSN:
30554
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Asunción to Miami with intermediate stops at Rio de Janeiro and Belém. It left Santos Dumont Airport at Rio de Janeiro at 1752LT bound to the northeast. While cruising along the shore, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Aracruz. All five occupants were killed. It was reported the aircraft was carrying a load of 140 kg of platine and about 70 millions of US$ in cash.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was the result of an act of sabotage because a certain quantity of hydrochloric acid was found in the fuel.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DL at Parnamirim AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1957 at 0640 LT
Operator:
Registration:
2029
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Parnamirim – Belém
MSN:
9246
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Parnamirim AFB in Natal, killing all five crew members.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414A Hudson near Miracema do Tocantins: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-AMJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Goiânia – Belém
MSN:
414-7547
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Miracema do Tocantins, killing all four occupants.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Marabá: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-ASN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Belém – Marabá
MSN:
1792
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to Marabá, both engines failed. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the seaplane crashed into the Río Tocantins. A crewman was killed while four other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Parintins: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PDB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Belém – Parintins
MSN:
22021
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While landing on the Amazone River off Parintins, the seaplane hit a submerged object, came to a halt and partially sank. Nine occupants were rescued while three others were killed, among them the pilot Luís Anet and the radio operator.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-28-DK in Belém: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1955 at 0657 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CCC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Belém – Barreiras
MSN:
15845/32593
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off at 0657LT from Belém Airport, carrying 4 crew and 2 passengers, and had climbed to approximately 100 to 250 metres when the pilot noted signs of malfunctioning in the left engine. A violent stall and loss of power in this engine followed although the propeller continued to revolve. No emergency message was sent and the pilot did not press the feathering control. However, the rest of the emergency procedure appears to have been carried out or to have been in progress at the time of the crash. The hydraulic pump was off and this had the effect of stopping the retraction of the undercarriage half-way. The aerodynamic resistance of the semi-retracted undercarriage prevented the aircraft from maintaining altitude, carrying it down to 20 or 30 metres above the tree tops, possibly without this being noticed. There is reason to believe that the pilot was in the act of switching the fuel selector from one tank to the other when the left wing tip hit a tree breaking off 2.5 metres of the wing and half the aileron. The aircraft swerved 20 degrees to the left and nosed-up violently, The right engine at this time was on full power. The aircraft stalled and hit the ground 200 metres farther on. Explosion of the fuel tanks and fire followed. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the front bearing of the propeller shaft originated a process which led to disconnection of the reduction gear and left propeller and causing sudden stoppage of the left engine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated C-10A Catalina in Belém: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1954 at 1737 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
6516
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Belém – Manaus
MSN:
1919
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Four minutes after takeoff from Belém, bound for Manaus, the seaplane suffered an engine failure and crashed. Both pilots were killed while 11 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Rio Gurupizinho: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1948
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Belém – São Luis
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near the Rio Gurupizinho, at the border of Pará and Maranhão States. The wreckage was found two days later and all four crew members were killed.