Crash of a Lockheed 18-10 LodeStar near São Francisco de Assis: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1950 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SAA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Porto Alegre – São Borja
MSN:
18-2133
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Porto Alegre around 1100LT bound for São Borja with an IFR flight plan filed at an altitude of 4,500 feet. Few minutes later, the captain requested to continue in VFR when he encountered poor visibility. The aircraft christened 'São Pedro do Rio Grande' was flying in clouds when it hit the slope of the Cerro Cortelini located near São Francisco de Assis. All 12 occupants were killed, among them Gustavo Ernesto de Carvalho Kraemer, captain and founder of the Sociedade Anônima Viação Aérea Gaúcha (SAVAG) and Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho, senator and ex Minister of Aviation. They were returning to São Borja after they visited the site where a Panair Constellation crashed two days earlier.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049 Constellation in Porto Alegre: 51 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1950 at 1925 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PCG
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Porto Alegre
MSN:
2062
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
PB099
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
51
Circumstances:
A first approach to Porto Alegre was abandoned due to poor weather conditions. The crew followed a circuit vertical to the city and eventually informed ATC that his fuel reserve was low. During a second attempt to land, while approaching in VFR mode in low visibility, the four engine aircraft was too low when it hit power cables and crashed in flames on the slope of a 200 meters hill located about 15 km from the runway threshold. All 51 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the pilot in command was trying to maintain a visual contact with the ground.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Jaquirana: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VBI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo – Porto Alegre
MSN:
33100
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft left São Paulo-Congonhas Airport at 1123LT bound for Porto Alegre. Some 20 minutes prior to the estimated time of arrival, a fire in cargo hold 'G' was noted. The pilot executed an emergency descent while the mechanics tried, in vain, to extinguish the fire. The flight crew members were not able to see their instruments due to heavy smoke and had to keep their heads out of the window to carry out an emergency landing in hilly terrain. The passengers crowded in panic at the forward end of the cabin in an attempt to escape from the fire. This caused a dangerous and sudden change in the Centre of Gravity of the plane. The aircraft swung violently during the landing on rough ground.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
The cause of the fire in the Hold 'G' of the airplane was not determined by the investigation board who evidently assumed that several possibilities may have existed such as the ignition of inflammable material contained in cargo or passenger baggage, or through a live cigarette butt falling through an open cargo tie ring hole or open rivet hole in the cabin floor - considered a very remote possibility. The report states that several passengers, possibly students on board brought petroleum jars from Bahia, and some suspicion is expressed related to this incident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK near Florianópolis: 28 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1949 at 1400 LT
Operator:
Registration:
2023
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Florianópolis – Porto Alegre
MSN:
17098/34365
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Florianópolis Airport, while climbing in heavy rain falls, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Cambirela located 14 km southwest of the airfield. Rescuers arrived on scene 27 hours later and all 28 occupants have been killed. Due to poor visibility caused by bad weather conditions, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountainous terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Pelotas: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SAC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pelotas – Porto Alegre
MSN:
2112
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while initial climb, both engines failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed near the runway end. All eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the double engine failure was caused by a fuel contamination.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in São Gabriel

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VAS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Gabriel – Porto Alegre
MSN:
1028
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and as the undercarriage were already raised, the aircraft belly landed on a hill located past the runway end and came to rest. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine because the carburetor air intake was clogged.

Crash of a Lockheed 10C Electra in Porto Alegre: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VAQ
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1008
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
On approach to Port Alegre Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Guaíba River. All ten occupants were killed.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge off Porto Alegre: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VAL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4058
YOM:
1934
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Porto Alegre Airport, while climbing, the three engine aircraft named 'Maua' stalled and crashed in the Guaíba Lagoon, off the airport. Fifteen people were rescued while six others, among them the pilot Harald Stunde and the flight engineer Bruno, were killed.

Crash of a Junkers A.50ce on the Mosquitos Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P-BAAE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio Grande – Porto Alegre
MSN:
3534
YOM:
1931
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rio Grande Airport, en route to Porto Alegre, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to fog. While attempting an emergency landing, the aircraft crashed in a marshy field located on the Mosquitos Island, some 13 km north of the airfield. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured.

Crash of a Latécoère 26.2R off Porto Alegre

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AILB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
654
YOM:
1927
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing in Porto Alegre, the single engine airplane came to rest upside down, partially submerged in the Rio Guaíba. The pilot Raoul MacLeod was injured while the navigator Jean Macaigne was unhurt.